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THE

ISSUEGREEN

Green Projects

RevisitedDo they really work out as planned?

INSIDE■ Federal rebate timeline sketchy

■ Oil industry works on insurance puzzle

■ Home construction boost in Ontario

■ Proposed oil furnace efficiency questioned

INSIDE■ Federal rebate timeline sketchy

■ Oil industry works on insurance puzzle

■ Home construction boost in Ontario

■ Proposed oil furnace efficiency questioned

JULY/AUGUST 2011


iSeriesMixing Valves

ProFit Parts

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SoftwareHot Water on D’MAND®

Air Eliminators

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eLearning

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www.plumbingandhvac.ca July/August 2011 – Plumbing & HVAC 3

Green projects revisited We check back and see how they’re working

The fuel price nightmare 16 Evolving van technologies may offer solution

Choosing technology 35 Sometimes it’s better to let others lead

■ Contents

Features

DepartmentsHot Seat .........................................5

Industry News ..............................6EcoEnergy rebates return

Training Page ..............................49Pump program hits the road

People & Places............................50One huge wholesale show

Coming Events.............................53HRAI to visit wine country

Shop Management......................54Marketing your business

Products & TechnologiesTrucks for the Trade.....................19

Air Conditioning..........................20

Ventilation ...................................23

Refrigeration ...............................24

Hot Water Heating ......................28

Heating ........................................31

Tools & Instruments ....................33

E-Business ....................................39

Pipes, Valves & Fittings ...............41

Faucets & Fixtures .......................45

Cover photo:From plumbing and HVAC/R equipment to the trucks you drive, today’s emphasis is on energy efficiency.

The Green Issue

Code versus natural law 43 They usually go hand in hand

PHVAC - AUG - (Solar Family) - Outlines.ai 1 7/19/2011 5:14:06 PM

Group Publisher

Mark Vreugdenhil(416) 614-5819

[email protected]

Editor

Simon Blake(416) 614-5820

[email protected]

Design and Production

Tim [email protected]

Associate Publisher

Jordan Chong(416) 614-5832

[email protected]

Production Manager

Lilianna Kantor(416) 614-5815

[email protected]

Circulation Manager

Pat Glionna

Corporate Services

Anthony Evangelista

PLUMBING & HVAC Magazine is published eight times annually by NEWCOM Business MediaInc. and is written for individuals who purchase/ specify/approve the selection of plumbing, piping, hot water heating, fire protection, warm air heating, air conditioning, ventilation, refrigeration, controls and related systems and products throughout Canada.

NEWCOM Business Media Inc.451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4Tel: (416) 242-8088 • Fax (416) 242-8085

POSTMASTER: Send all address changes and circulation inquiries to: Plumbing & HVAC Product News magazine, 451 Attwell Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M9W 5C4. CanadianPublications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40063170. Postage paid at Toronto, ON.Annual Subscription Canada: $40.00 plus applicable taxes, single copy $5.00 plus applicable taxes. Annual Subscription United States: $60.00 U.S. Annual Subscription foreign: $90.00 U.S.

Copyright 2011. The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in any mannerwithout the prior written permission of the Publisher.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Government ofCanada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for ourpublishing activities.

A member of: Canadian Institute of Plumbing & HeatingCanadian Circulation Audit BoardMechanical Contractors Assoc. of CanadaOntario Plumbing Inspectors AssociationAmerican Society of Heating Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers

Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada

Refrigeration Service Engineers Society of Canada

July/August 2011Volume 21, Number 5

ISSN 1919-0395

Canadian Business Press

Member

■ Hot Seat

Contractors tend to be a pretty cautious bunch when itcomes to trying new technologies, with good reason. Theyhave the same primary goal as the customer – that anynew piece of equipment works and works well. Over theyears, every contractor determines what works best for hiscustomers and what gives him the fewest callbacks.

As a result, the latest energy efficient heating and airconditioning equipment can be a tough sell. And thenwe get into areas that many contractors are just not thatfamiliar with, such as solar and geothermal. However,we are seeing more and more of these technologies attrade shows and in the field. Sometimes they work verywell and sometimes they don’t. So what’s the differencebetween good and bad installations?

The ‘green’ systems that work well are those that havebeen installed by contractors that were diligent in learningthe technology, preparing the site and taking into accountall and any factors required to make it work. They alongwith their employees took specialized training. Thesystems are well thought out and engineered.

When we decided to go back and visit some of the greenprojects that this magazine has covered in the past, we werepretty sure these projects were going to be successfulbecause they fit the above criteria. Of course, like any majorproject that involves new technologies, there were a fewbugs to work out in the first year of operation.

But both projects were well engineered and plannedand as a result they worked pretty much the way theowners hoped.

Poorly done projects seem to always make the news.Geothermal has suffered a bad rap recently because anumber of projects have been reported where thehomeowners’ energy costs actually increased. This

suggests that the system is running on the backupelectric heat a lot. Given that the technology is proven,one has to wonder if the contractor had soil tests done orif the driller short-drilled the holes. Installinggeothermal is a lot more than just drilling a few holes inthe ground, just as solar is much more than simplybolting a few panels to a roof.

These projects are a huge investment for thehomeowner and when they fail they damage theindustry’s reputation. Don’t expect the many projectsthat worked well to be reported in the mainstreammedia anytime soon, but they won’t miss an opportunityto report on those that go wrong.

I often think, particularly when I watch an experiencedtechnician struggling to set up the digital controls in a newboiler, for example, that many of these systems are morecomplicated than they need to be. Surely, more could bedone to have sensors determine system and buildingconditions to simplify commissioning.

But nevertheless, these ‘green’ technologies are goingto increasingly be part of the mechanical contractor’sworld. Getting through the steep learning curve willrequire a lot of training, research and hands on practicein the field.

So don’t expect to make much money on the first fewjobs – that will only come when you become the localgo-to contractor for green technology!

Climbing the green curve


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The new federal Conservative majoritygovernment is bringing back apopular rebate program thatencourages homeowners to upgradeto more energy efficient heating and

cooling equipment, but for only a year.The industry has asked the federal government

to expand the $400 million ecoEnergy Retrofitprogram to four years after which it is expected tobe self-sufficient.

A letter sent to Prime Minister Stephen HarperMay 6 outlines a three-step proposal:• a four-year renewal of the ecoEnergy Retrofit

program• the transition to a new EnerGuide rating system

(ERS) for homes• ERS rating system of all homes at time of sale

The letter from the Save ecoEnergy Coalition(www.saveecoenrgy.ca) was signed by the presidentof the Heating, Refrigeration and Air ConditioningInstitute of Canada (HRAI) along with thepresidents of associations representing theinsulation and window/siding/doors industries.

“The objective… has been all about selling thegovernment and hopefully future governments onthe fact that incentives like this and investments inenergy efficiency should be long-termcommitments versus something that they jumpinto the market with and then jump out based onwhere the budgets stand,” said HRAI presidentWarren Heeley.

Details of new program announcedDetails of the latest version of the program wereannounced at a Rona store in Toronto June 13 byNRCan Minister Joe Oliver and Heeley. It runsfrom June 6 until March 31, 2012. While therebates are similar to previous version of theprogram, contractors will no longer be able to dothe paperwork for the customer.

Instead, homeowners must apply directly to the

program and must provide receipts to their energyadvisor at the time of post-retrofit evaluation toprove the products were purchased after June 6.

More information is available on the NRCanwebsite at http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential.

Thrown for a loopWhile the industry welcomes the renewedprogram because it will help drive heating and airconditioning sales, it has been thrown for a loop anumber of times with sudden changes. In 2007rebates for 14 SEER and higher Energy Star airconditioning equipment came in just after theminimum performance level had been raised from10 SEER to 13 SEER in late 2006, leavingwholesalers and dealers overstocked on 13 SEERequipment. On March 31, 2010, the federalgovernment cancelled the ecoEnergy rebateprogram with about 12 hours notice.

A long-term strategy would reduce disruptionin the marketplace while being more effective inmoving homeowners to energy efficientequipment to reduce greenhouse gases, said Heeley.

Controversy brewing?The idea of having homeowners get energy auditson their homes prior to sale is bound to becontroversial. The Ontario government backeddown on a similar proposal in April, 2009following a backlash from home owners and thereal estate industry.

However, industry officials believe the proposalwould continue to drive the move to more efficientequipment after the rebates end. The goal is tomake energy efficiency a key factor in homebuying.

In fact, “that’s probably the most nebulous sideof this,” admits Heeley. Homeowners are alwaysreluctant to change out functional HVACequipment.

“There has to be a case that has something todo with dollars and cents that can be sold to thehomeowner. We have the largest energyconsuming product in the home, typically, so weare higher on the scale of opportunities forsuccess by saying to someone: ‘Look, if you moveto a high efficiency furnace, you are going to savethis much money and you are going to get apayback.’ When you get into insulation, windows,etc. it’s a tougher sell.”

Energy prices that are still relatively lowcompared to other household expenses don’thelp, he added.✚

6 Plumbing & HVAC – July/August 2011 www.plumbingandhvac.ca

■ Industry News

Rebate revival Thermostat recovery in ManitobaThe Heating Refrigeration and Air ConditioningInstitute of Canada (HRAI) has expanded its“Switch the Stat” thermostat recovery program toManitoba. It offers a free and easy way forcontractors to recycle decommissioned thermostatsthat contain mercury. Since the program began in2006, it has collected over 63,000 thermostats anddiverted 179 kilograms of mercury from landfills.

Toronto setback bylaw repealedOn May 18 Toronto City Council repealed thecity’s Harmonizing Zoning Bylaw that wasestablished last fall. Among other things, itstandardized air conditioner setbacks from theproperty line at 0.9 meters, something HRAI hadlobbied for after the initial proposal was 1.5meters. Now, the situation returns to the old law,which varies across the six former municipalitiesthat make up today’s Toronto, with the old part ofthe city having no restrictions.

Oil heat education dayThe Ontario Chapter of the Canadian Oil HeatAssociation will hold its second annual EducationDay Sept. 15-16 in Niagara Falls. The two days atthe new Scotiabank Convention Centre are loadedwith seminars and professional development. Formore information, contact Constance Wrigley-Thomas at 1-877-331-9668 or visitwww.coha-ontario.ca.

Toilet rebates reduce B.C. water useThe City of Nanaimo, B.C. has exhausted the$50,000 it budgeted for its 2011 toiletreplacement program. However, the cash removed767 inefficient toilets from city homes andbuildings and is expected to save the city 8.5million gallons of water, reports the CanadianWater and Wastewater Association (CWWA). Sincethe program began in Nanaimo, 3,274 13-litre orgreater toilets have been replaced with six-litre orlower models. On Oct. 3, a B.C. building codechange will limit toilets to 4.8 litres per flush acrossthe province.

General strike endsA 14-week strike at General Wire Spring – amanufacturer of drain cleaning and inspectionequipment – ended June 13 when the companyreached an agreement with the United SteelWorkers. It was the first strike in 35 years for thecompany, headquartered in McKees Rocks,Pennsylvania. Customer service personnel andtemporary workers continued to fill orders duringthe strike. The company has never had a lay-offsince its founding in 1930. Final terms were similarto what the company proposed prior to the strike,reported executive vice president David Silverman,who thanked customers and sales representativesfor their “incredible patience and loyalty.”

In Brief

Federal government brings back ecoEnergy rebates

By Simon Blake

The industry hasbeen thrown for a loopa number of times with sudden changes.

A vigorous effort by the Canadian OilHeat Association (COHA) to convinceinsurance companies that oil heatingisn’t a bad thing appears to be paying off.

“We found the insurance companieswere really putting a clamp on ourindustry,” COHA chair Russell Noonantold delegates at the group’s annualgeneral meeting June 22. A number of oiltank spills inspired insurance companiesto put all sorts of conditions – somejustified and some not – on anyhomeowner with oilheat, he added.

COHA’s risk management committeehad “proactive discussions” with 15major insurers, reported theorganization’s president and generalmanager, Veronica Yu.

“I am very confidant that through thiscommunication we can work this out,”she reported.

As well, delegates at Oilheat 2011, heldin Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. June 21-22, heard that COHA has takensignificant steps to improve oil tankinstallations through training andencouraging the use of better quality

tanks. “The single wall storage tank is notreally an option anymore as far as COHAis concerned,” said Noonan.

Over 500 technicians have learnedbest practices at COHA’s oil tankinstallation course. And 134 technicianshave completed COHA Green Tech –advanced oil heat installation –certification with a number of othersthat have qualified pending thecompletion of paperwork, reportedNoonan.

As well, a number of homeownerstook advantage of COHA’s Retire YourTank program and received a $125 rebatewhen they upgraded. Noonan expectsthe program will return next year. “Wewill carry on for the next few years untilwe get this situation with the oil tanksstraightened out.”

COHA is also working with NaturalResources Canada to establish standardsfor biofuels. Keynote speaker Al Wilmsof Parkland Fuels, Red Deer, Alta., notedthat the company’s Columbia Fuelsdivision is limiting biofuel to B-5 – fivepercent bio – as soybean-based bio-fuel

emulsifies at -10C, clogging filters andother parts. “We will only offer what willsafely flow through the furnace system,”he noted.

SpeakersEducation was a big part of Oilheat2011. In his keynote address, Wilmsnoted that it’s a constant battle tomaintain oil heat customers as oil pricesincrease and, except in some pockets ofthe country, they have other options.

“We can almost see a direct linebetween crude oil prices and (off-oil)conversions… The key to our longevityis to get that high efficiency safe storagetechnology out there.”

He noted that his company has anational program to replace single-walltanks, which it doesn’t sell anymore. Partof that program is making the changeoutat minimal cost to the homeowner.“We’re not trying to make money on oiltanks,” he reported.

Poor tank installations, many fromthe past, continue to haunt the industry,remarked Marc Raymond, vice president

of Spectius Underwriting Solutions,Toronto. About 1.1 million homes inCanada use oil heat. About 625,000 oiltank installations don’t comply with theCSA B139 oil-heating standard. Heprojects that 72,277 could fail and theaverage cleanup cost is $65,000.

Lack of maintenance is one of thebiggest problems, he added. “Mosthomeowners are prudent. If (the tank) isproperly installed and properlymaintained, it’s not going to be aproblem.”

It wasn’t all business at the two-dayevent. The first COHA Cup golftournament was well supported, as wereshopping trips to the U.S. and nearbyNiagara-on-the-Lake for companions.About 170 people attended this year.

One of the liveliest debates over thetwo-day conference centered on thelocation of Oilheat 2012. Prospectivesites included Moncton, N.B.,Yellowknife, N.W.T., Mont Tremblant,Que. and Victoria, B.C. After severalrounds of voting, Mont Tremblant edgedout Victoria. The date has yet to beestablished.

For more information, visitwww.coha.ca. ✚


Oil industry reports progress on insurance front

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■ Industry News

Home construction is relatively healthy insome parts of the country, reports theCanadian Mortgage and HousingCorporation. CMHC has had to reviseits numbers upwards as housing starts

were higher than initially expected. The seasonallyadjusted annual rate of housing starts was 197,400 unitsin June, up from a revised 194,100 units in May. April2011 was also revised upward to 194,100 units.

“Housing starts increased in June due to an increasein single and multiple starts in Ontario,” said BobDugan, chief economist at CMHC’s Market Analysis

Centre. “The revised numbers show that housing startshave been above their trend line since March.However, we expect housing starts to move backtowards levels consistent with demographic

fundamentals in the near term.”The seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban starts

increased by 2.2 per cent to 174,600 units in June. Urbansingle starts were up by 11.1 per cent in June to 70,900units, while multiple urban starts decreased by3.1 per cent to 103,700 units.

June’s seasonally adjusted annual rate of urban startsincreased by 24.1 per cent in Ontario, and by5.6 per cent in the Atlantic region. However, BritishColumbia posted a decrease of 27.6 per cent over thesame period, while urban starts decreased 3.6 per centin Quebec, and by 1.2 per cent in the Prairie region.

Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjustedannual rate of 22,800 units in June.

Seasonally adjusted annual rates are monthly figuresadjusted to remove normal seasonal variation andmultiplied by 12 to reflect annual levels.

Meanwhile, Statistics Canada reported that the valueof building permits rose 20.9 percent to $6.4 billion inMay, following a 21.5 percent decline in April. Higherconstruction intentions, particularly for commercialbuildings in Quebec and Alberta and multi-familydwellings in Ontario, were behind the advance.

Following two consecutive monthly declines,permits in the non-residential sector rose 50.9 percentto $2.7 billion. This gain came mainly from higherconstruction intentions in the commercial component

in Quebec, Alberta and Ontario.The value of permits in the residential sector

increased 5.3 percent to $3.7 billion in May, following a12.1 percent decline in April. The increase occurredlargely as a result of advances in the value of multi-family dwellings in Quebec and Ontario. ✚

Building permits paint hopeful picture

The revised numbersshow that housing starts have been above their trend line since March.

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■ Letters

Dear EditorWe approve of the general principle that oil furnacesshould be as efficient as practical; however, we areuncomfortable with a legislated minimum AFUE of 85percent for oil-fired furnaces sold in Canada (asproposed by Natural Resources Canada). We currentlymanufacture a number of these furnaces that meet theminimum requirement, and several oil furnaces modelsthat do not.

As of today, there are 2,009 oil furnace modelsregistered with NRCan. Thirty-nine percent of thesefurnaces are Energy Star rated, meaning that theirefficiency ratings are equal to, or greater than 85percent.

Just over nine percent of the registered furnaces haveefficiencies over 90 percent; i.e., they are condensing oil-fired furnaces. The condensing oil furnaces have been inproduction too few years to establish a track record withrespect to service life and maintenance costs.

High efficiency, low capacityMost of the oil-fired furnaces rated at 85 percent orgreater are from the lower end of the heating capacityspectrum. The typical Canadian home is usually wellserved by furnaces in this range, and there are several 85percent-plus furnace models from which to choose.However, for larger homes in colder climates, the rangeof choice for an 85 percent-plus furnace drops offsignificantly. The number of units manufactured for thissegment of the market is comparatively small as well.From a manufacturer’s point of view, the investmentnecessary to redevelop the smaller volume units to the 85percent minimum might not pay off in a reasonablelength of time.

The market for oil furnaces has been decreasing

significantly for several years. The reward for researchand development is diminishing as a consequence.Mandatory minimum efficiencies might drive somemanufacturers out of the oil segment entirely.

There are some practical concerns about a blanketminimum efficiency level for all oil-fired furnaces. Oneof the consequences of higher AFUE ratings is lowerstack temperatures. There is a much greater chance forflue gas condensation to occur, which is potentiallydamaging to venting components, and in some cases, thefurnace itself.

Potential sulfur damageThe sulfur contained within furnace fuel oils varies;however, it readily combines with the water vapourcomponent of the products of combustion formingdamaging acids. The lower stack temperatures can makeit more difficult to establish a reasonable chimney base

temperature, which could interfere with establishing agood chimney draft. Poor chimney draft conditions cancascade into additional problems with poor combustioncharacteristics, increased potential for carbon monoxideformation, etc.

There are already reported problems with chimneyicing in the colder regions of Canada. While it ispreferable for most fuel consumed to be used forheating the structure, a certain proportion must beused to heat the chimney to ensure its safe function. Inextremely cold areas, it requires more heat, whichresults in somewhat lower furnace efficiency. ACanada-wide minimum of 85 percent AFUE isprobably impractical. If minimum furnace efficiency isdeemed necessary, it would probably be better toapproach the issue on a regional basis. Local buildingdepartments are more apt to have experientialknowledge with which to base decisions on matters ofdesired minimum efficiencies.

Only one part of systemIt is important to remember that the furnace is amajor component in a heating system. Installing ahigh efficiency oil furnace in otherwise deficientconditions will do little to improve heating a buildingefficiently. The greatest improvement in heatingefficiency can be gained by selecting the right sizedfurnace for the job at hand. No furnace will workefficiently without a properly designed duct system.Deficient return air, and/or inadequate supply air willnegate any improvements in appliance efficiency.Although proper chimney sizing, and allowances forcombustion air and ventilation air are addressed inthe B-139 Installation Code, careful scrutiny,installation or correction of these factors will alsoimprove overall efficiency.

Yours truly, John Crozier Technical Services,Morden National Sales & Marketing,Wallaceburg, Ont.

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■ Building Green

GREEN PROJECTS REVISITED

An ambitious geothermal retrofit

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By Simon Blake

Eric Lange operates a Toronto-based truckingand logistics company that moves everythingfrom trade show displays to delicate medicalequipment around North America.

In 2006 he purchased a 30-year-old formerauto parts plant in Toronto’s west end to use as awarehouse. The 70,000 sq. ft. building’s original rooftopunits were inefficient and at the end of their lifespan.The first monthly gas bill he received was $3,800; thenext one (for November) was $5,632, with the likelihoodof bills exceeding $10,000 in the middle of winter.

There are two things one needsto know about Lange. First, he’s abusinessman and he doesn’t likeflushing money down the toilet.Secondly, he believes that acomfortable work environment isa productive work environment.

He asked Selectpower, then adivision of Guelph Hydro, to doan assessment of the building. As aresult, he concluded thatgeothermal heating and airconditioning might offer asolution. The only problem wasfinding a location for the borehole

field, until he realized that the 25 by 300 foot drivewayneeded to be paved anyway.

The systemGeoSmart Energy of Cambridge, Ont. designed a systemthat would keep the 60,000 sq. ft. warehouse at 55-60ºF,with zoning in the 10,000 sq. ft. office to provide bettercomfort control. Warehouse heating and cooling isprovided by five 70,000 Btu/h forced air heat pumps.There is an 18,000 Btu/h heat pump for the dispatchroom, and eight two-stage heat pumps from 24,000 to72,000 Btu/h supply the office – basically one per zone.

The borehole field consists of horizontal and verticalloops to make up the capacity.

In total, the project cost about $500,000, compared toabout $200,000 to install new rooftop units.

Expectations exceededSo, how well does it work? Were the energy efficiencyand payback goals met?

“I’m thrilled with what we’ve accomplished. I’mthrilled that after five years the payback has been whatwe thought it would be, if not more,” said Lange.Installed in October 2006, savings on the natural gas billhave already covered the cost.

Air conditioning the warehouse wasn’t originally partof the plan. “I never at the time thought we would be airconditioning the warehouse… I thought, quite frankly,that we would just turn it off in the summer and savethe electricity,” said Lange.

“It was only afterwards that I was told that, because ofthe heat that we’ve taken out of the ground (over thewinter), we had to replenish it (during the summer).”

Lange discovered a key advantage to this. He couldadvertise his warehouse as “climate controlled,” resultingin a significant business advantage. And the extraelectricity cost during the summer turned out to bepennies per hour.

There turned out to be considerable savings onmaintenance as well. “I’m sure some of your readerswon’t be happy to hear this, but we don’t have amaintenance contract on our building anymore,”remarked Lange.

The only maintenance required is to rinse out thestainless steel filters for the heat pumps under tap water,something that is done by employees. Filters for theoffice units are cleaned four times a year, while those inthe warehouse are cleaned monthly, primarily due tocontamination from propane-powered forklifts.

ModificationsLike any large commercial system, a certain amount offine-tuning was required in the first year of operation.

Lange found the heat wasn’t enough during the coldestdays, but that he had an overabundance of DHW, whichis also heated with the geothermal system. As a result,the system was re-engineered to devote more of itsoutput to space heating.

One drawback with geothermal is its long recoverytime when a large overhead door is left open. Extendingductwork over the doors helped.

Earlier this year Lange decided to add air exchangeunits in the warehouse. A tenant that moves heavymachinery uses propane-powered forklifts. Carbonmonoxide readings at 16 parts per million were wellwithin the maximum allowable level of 250 ppm, but theimproved ventilation brought the level down to zero.

“Because this building is so airtight, we weren’tgetting the air exchange the way we were with atraditional system.”

The success of the system has made a believer out ofLange. “I am so happy with it here that when our homeheating system needed to be replaced (in 2008), wedecided to do the house with geothermal too.” ✚

The heat pumps in the warehouse provide cooling as well as heating.

Extending the ductwork helped with slow recovery when an overhead door was opened.

Eric Lange wasso pleased withthe project thathe had geother-mal installed athis home.

In 2008 the Town of Richmond Hill, just north ofToronto, decided to retrofit its 10-storeymunicipal building with a solar DHW hot waterheating system at a cost of $48,000.

Retrofits are generally more challenging thannew construction and this was no exception. The DHWload in this building, built in 1989, is significant. Twowashrooms on each floor, several kitchens along withshower facilities – about 100 taps in all – serve 400employees.

SolUNik Inc. of Aurora, Ont. won the contract tomake the conversion.

The project was broken down into stages –mechanical, controls, electrical, roofing, etc. – andtendered out to the appropriate trades. SolUNikpresident Dr. Vladimir Nikiforov expects this is the waythat the better solar projects will be done – with

companies like his providing the solar expertise andsubcontractors bringing their own skills to theirparticular field.

Mixing old and newIn designing the system, Nikiforov used as much of theexisting equipment as possible to keep the cost down,allowing him to focus the bulk of the budget on solarequipment and controls.

DHW was previously provided by a dedicated687,000 Btu/h (input) Raypak boiler and a 400-gallonA.O. Smith storage tank, both housed in the 11th-floormechanical room. Both were adapted for the newsystem.

However, 12 roof-mounted 2.6 sq. metre (28 sq. ft.)Chromagen flat-plate solar collectors provide primaryDHW heating.

Panel installation A professional roofing contractor installed the panels,ensuring they were properly supported, level and theroof was properly sealed. The mountings support thepanels at the best angle to the sun while also protectingthem from wind and snow load damage. In the pastthree years, they have survived a number of wind andhail storms. Piping was oversized to allow additionalsolar panels if the town decided to expand the system toprovide building heat (through fan coils) or snowmelting, something they haven’t yet done.

Controls The system is best visualized as two separate systems –the solar/glycol loop and the water system. There are two


Do they really perform the way the designers expect? By Simon BlakeThis magazine has reported on a number of “green” projects over theyears. The articles invariably explain that the technology is expected tosave a certain amount of energy and result in other benefits for the

building owners and occupants. But one has to wonder, do they alwaysperform as expected? We decided it was time to revisit some of theseprojects and see how they are doing.

Solar sparks return on investment

Please see ‘Solar on page 15

Nikiforov checks the surface temperature of the solar panels.

}

Lights,camera,action!

Plumbing & HVAC Magazine isnow online with exciting industryrelated videos, kicking off with

this year’s MCEE 2011 trade showin Montreal.

Visit www.plumbingandhvac.caand click on P&HVAC Video

for full coverage!

interconnected microprocessor controls. The SolUNikDeltaSol control operates the solar system and isconnected to the computers of both the facility managerand design engineer.

It is programmed in summer or winter modes to takefull advantage of the available solar energy. Average dailyenergy production by the solar collectors varies from alow of 70 kW-h per day in the winter to a high of 120kW-h in the summer.

In the summer the solar system has priority and –most of the time – fulfils the building’s entire DHWneeds, with the boiler as backup. In the winter thesolar and boiler systems work together to produceDHW.

A multi-function technology (MFT) Belimo controllooks after the water side of the system, controlling themixing proportion between current load and thebuilding’s DHW recirculation line.

The DeltaSol control monitors energy use, whichallows an accurate assessment of how the system hasdone in the three years since installation.

So how much did Richmond Hill save? It varies fromyear to year due to fluctuations in natural gas prices.However, the savings have ranged from $8,000 to$12,000, or about 30 percent, reports Nikiforov. Thesystem will pay for itself in 6-1/2 years.

System changesThere have been few changes. An additionalmonitoring system was added and tied into thebuilding automation system. After the first year,

Richmond Hill officials had a panel installed in thebuilding’s lobby showing the kW-h savings. From dayone to the day of P&HVAC’s visit June 16, thatamounted to 51,118 kW-h.

MaintenanceThe city has a maintenance contract with SolUNik. Thesystem has needed no repairs, although at the time ofP&HVAC’s visit the insulation on the outdoor pipingwas cracking and will be replaced.

There was no sign of degradation of the solar panels

or any other equipment.Nikiforov visits about once every two months to

ensure that everything is operating correctly. Once ayear, the propylene glycol mix is checked andchemicals are added to correct it if necessary.SolUNik will drain the fluid, flush the system, andrefill with a fresh mix about once every seven or eightyears.

Nikiforov is looking into the possibility of using anenvironmentally friendly glycol made from corn oilwhen that occurs.

Nikiforov’s next project for the town is to install a64-panel system to provide swimming pool heatingfor Centennial Pool at the Richmond HillCommunity Centre. ✚


■ Building Green

Solar payback on targetContinued from page 13

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Solar Load

The solar control, pumps, glycol feeder and expansion tank.Pipe insulation proved to have poor resistance to UV and will be replaced.

This chart illustrates the portion of the DHW load covered by the solar system.

avid Letterman said: The Federal TradeCommission has ruled OUT that oilcompanies are gouging customers.Technically, they say, they’re screwingcustomers.” Jay Leno said, “As you know, thegovernment takes 40 percent of what youmake. The other 60 percent, of course, is taken

by the gas stations.” Talk show hosts may befunny, but these days fleet managers don’t dare

stay up that late. After having to wait patiently for the economy to

recover and vehicle purchase budgets to improve,

contractors are now faced with the daunting taskof ensuring vehicle efficiency by evaluating myriad

available vehicle options. From two-mode hybrids tocompressed natural gas (CNG), to plug-ins; the marketis flush with evolving technologies, new concepts andnew models; which might save fuel, might save onmaintenance and might save on overall life-cycle costs.Or, they might not. For example, average prices forethanol-gas combinations cost more right now than gasalone on a kilometre-per-litre basis.

Record fuel pricesAt about $1.25 per litre in Canada, the gasoline price atthe pumps has not been this high since 2008 and has notbeen this high for this long – ever. The websitewww.Oilprice.net, which has been frequently accuratewhen it comes to crude oil price increases, suggests thatover the next 12 months there will be some fluctuation,with decreases possible of perhaps 20 percent at most,but increases will at least equal these. More likely oneyear from now, gas will cost 10 to 15 percent more.Author Jeff Rubin, former CIBC World Marketseconomist, has also been frequently right and ispredicting much steeper increases. This could be aserious problem for many mechanical contractors. Someare worried that fuel surcharges will create a drag onrevenues, but 30 or 40 percent fuel cost increases cannotsimply be absorbed.

Despite the uncertainty in the vehicle market a lot ofdata already exists on fuel, maintenance and life cyclecosts with alternative-fuel vehicles. For example it canbe said with relative confidence that lighter hybrids and


■ Trucks for the Trade

Evolving truck and van technologiesmay offer a solution

By Bruce Nagy

D

two-mode hybrids, such as the Silverado or Sierrapickups will save about 25 percent or more on fuel forcity driving. A propane vehicle will generally saveanother 10 percent and natural gas even more.

So on the basis of fuel consumption alone, fleetmanagers can now weigh maintenance, purchase, lease,rent and upfit costs against the calculated savings anddecide on a strategy to combat future sky-high fuel costs.

Vehicle typesFord is offering engine prep packages to upgrade fleetsfor compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquid propane gas(LPG) for Transit Connect, E-Series and Super Duty vansand trucks; with hardened valves for gaseous systems.Propane, the world’s third most popular vehicle fuel, isreceiving excellent reviews because it offers horsepowerand torque performance like gasoline, but reduces fuel

cost, maintenance, and environmental damage. TheChevrolet Express and GMC Savana full size vans arenow available with CNG and LPG power too.

Toyota has announced a 2012 Tacoma pickup hybridthat offers two engine variants; one at 2.7 litres,providing 159 hp and one at 4 litres for 236 hp. Hybridfleet sales are expected to exceed 800,000 vehicles by2015, according to Pike Research.

And then there are fully electric plug-ins. The 2011Ford Transit Connect Electric uses a force drive powertrain integrated by Azure Dynamics, who’s pastexperience includes bus fleets and freight companies. Itcan be recharged using 120V or 240V, which is convertedto DC on-board to charge the liquid cooled 28 kw-hbattery. The literature is less definitive in this area, but itappears electric vehicles save between 50 to 75 percent of‘fuel’ costs, plus some oil changes and brake repairs. On

the other hand, the battery changes every few yearsmight cost hundreds of dollars.

The politics of drivingWho killed the electric car the first time around?According to the popular movie of the same name lotsof people did, including car companies, oil companies,skeptical consumers, and especially, skittish politicians.

This time it looks as if governments at all levels aremoving mostly in the same direction. Incentives havecreated electric vehicle tests with the biggest fleetoperators in North America, including the majorcourier companies UPS, FedEx, Canada Post, taxi-cabfleets in New York and possibly Toronto too.

In Canada the provinces and major cities have beenmore active with incentives, programs and tests thanthe federal government. This was true in the U.S.A. too,

but recent moves from theObama administration havethe potential to make a bigimpact. “By December 31,2015, all new light dutyvehicles leased or purchasedby agencies must bealternative fueled vehicles,such as hybrid or electric,

compressed natural gas or biofuel,” Obama said in Mayin a memorandum to executive departments andagencies. This would affect about one million vehiclesand brings new economies of scale to alternative fueledvehicles.

In addition, the government said in June it is lending$8 billion to car companies, including Ford, Nissan andTesla (an electric car manufacturer) to re-tool factoriesfor production of electric and other fuel-efficientvehicles. These decisions follow announcements duringMarch and April that it will begin phasing out taxincentives and subsidies to oil companies.

In China the government is in the midst of a $900million (6 billion Yuan) investment spree to develop andmanufacture clean-energy vehicles and subsidize thepurchase of cleaner buses and other transport vehicles.Electric vehicles are a key part of the plan. Canadian

provinces, including BC, Ontario and Quebec arefunding pilot tests. Ontario is spending $2.3 million tohelp 132 companies such as haulage, paving and othersto test 1200 alternative fuel vehicles.

Greening our industryMechanical contractors are becoming increasinglyenthusiastic. Enbridge currently operates Canada’slargest fleet of natural gas vehicles with more than 600light duty trucks.

Some Roto Rooter franchises have recently concludedan experiment with their salespeople, achieving about17 kilometres per litre using Smart cars and a little lessusing Chevy Aeros. This has led to a plan to move intoalternative cargo vans for technicians and a full-scalepilot is now being planned.

Precision Plumbing & Heating in Boulder, Coloradohas purchased 20 electric vehicles and installed solarpanels on its roof to help re-charge the batteries for eighthours at night after technicians drive them 200kilometres each day. The company estimates it will save$100,000 per year.

Jason Easton, corporate communications manager forGeneral Motor’s fleet business in Canada says he expectsnatural gas and electric vehicles to be added increasinglythroughout the GM fleet line-up over the next few yearsand feels that this time around the electrified vehicleswill succeed in capturing a decent segment of themarket. He thinks the battery technology is correct andthe desired products and product features will now beoffered both by GM and its competitors.

The government may still take 40 percent of yourpay cheque, but there may eventually be some relief onthe fuel costs. ✚


Bruce Nagy is a Toronto-basedfreelance writer that reports on greentechnologies and solutions. He canbe reached [email protected].

Average prices for ethanol-gas combinations cost more right now than gas alone on a kilometre-per-litre basis.

Chevrolet’s Silverado hybrid has been on the market for some time.

Ford’s all-electric Transit Connect cargo van is already a reality.

Toyota’s Tacoma pickup is now available in twohybrid versions.

To learn more, call 800-631-8138 or visit www.genetronperformaxlt.com. © 2010 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved.

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goes on and on. Genetron Performax LT offers industry-leading capacity, industry-leading

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top performer


Nissan is trying to get a piece of theCanadian work-truck market with itsbrand-new NV (Envy, get it?) line ofvehicles, launched last month and soonto appear at selected Nissan dealers

across Canada.While the NV marks Nissan’s commercial-truck

debut in North America, the Japanese OEM has beenproducing work trucks for 75 years in other markets,most notably Asia. In fact, pictures of the NV have beenappearing in the trade press for a few years and the vanitself has been seen by thousands of contractors at tradeshows across Canada.

The NV is a body-on-frame (a.k.a. truck)construction and it’s going nose-to-nose againstDaimler’s popular Sprinter line of work trucks.

It is available in 13 configurations, with modelsranging from the NV1500, with standard-height roofand four-litre, 261-hp V6 power plant (MSRP: $30,998)to the top-of-the-line NV3500, which comes with a

high-roof body and a 317-hp 5.6-litre V8 and an MSRPof $39,668. All NVs are equipped with five-speedautomatic transmissions.

No doghouseAmong the NV’s key selling points: It’s a pickup-styletruck, which means no engine doghouse in the cab totrip up the technicians who use it as an office.

Also, the rear doors open a generous 243-degrees; thewalls in the cargo area are virtually vertical; the wheelwells are flat-topped, making them more practical forloading and storage; and the space between the wheelwells accommodates a standard sheet of drywall perfectly.

The storage compartment contains multiplereinforced mounting points for easy upfitting as well asthree dome lights.

In the cab, the multifunction front console offers

some surprisingly practical office-type conveniences.The passenger seat folds down to become an instantdesktop; the operator can plug a computer into the

standard-issue 120V outlet; the centre console slides outfor more office convenience, and there are storagecompartments everywhere you look including a coolspace under the console designed specifically forhanging files so your technician has no excuse for failingto keep things organized.

Also, the extremely comfortable seats are not onlywater – and Timmie’s – repellant. They are constructedwith special durability patches on the sides, designed towithstand the rough treatment they’re bound to get onthe road. (Nothing says a truck’s past its best-before datequite like a driver’s seat held together with industrialgrade duct tape.)

On the roadIn a dramatic demonstration of the NV’s raison d’etre,Nissan Canada let a small platoon of trucking journalists

test drive the new vehicles by delivering an assortment ofbathroom fixtures and other plumbing supplies to abuilding site in northeastern Toronto.

The house in question is a Habitat-for-Humanityproject, which is one of Nissan’s favorite charities.

Nissan Canada workers have invested more than1,600 hours in sweat equity to Habitat for Humanity andNissan has donated over $350,000 in goods.

In his introduction before the journalists took to thewheels to make their deliveries, Nissan Canada’s seniormanager and chief marketing manager Jason Legeredescribed the NV as a “game changer.”

The broad expansive sidewalls are ideal for a shop’sadvertisements, Legere pointed out, adding “There’s novehicle in the market that looks like this vehicle.” ✚

Long awaited cargo vantakes aim at Sprinter

By Peter Carter

Peter Carter is editor of Today’sTrucking; Canada’s business resourcefor the heavy duty trucking industryand a sister magazine to Plumbingand HVAC at Newcom BusinessMedia. Raised in a fleet-owningfamily in Sudbury, Ont., Carter sayshe has driven enough wrecks over

the years to know a first-class truck when he sees it.

Journalists were invited to deliver plumbing materials in the new Nissan NV to a Habitat for Humanity site in north Toronto.

■ Trucks for the Trade

It’s a pickup-style truck, which means no engine doghouse in the cab to trip up the technicians who use it as an office.

NISSAN LAUNCHES“GAME CHANGER”

Last month we covered the charging and commissioning oftoday’s high efficiency residential air conditioners. In thisissue we will expand on the superheat and sub coolingnumbers in the refrigerant charging and testing operations.

How do you measure super heat and subcharging of a system? It’s always best toweigh in all charges due to possible loadcondition variations and to eliminateany guesswork, either on the

overcharged or undercharged side. This will also enablethe system to run with the correct superheat and subcooling measurements with the assistance of the setupof the airflow from the furnace or air handler. Properweighed in refrigerant charges let contractors devotetheir energies to other possibilities in an ill handlingsystem, such as electrical issues, static pressure problems,or not enough or too much airflow.

This will also save in labor costs during installs orservice calls during the winter. This would allow a setupof refrigerant and airflow, eliminating spring startups onmultiple systems and conserving valuable time. And itwill allow the building’s owner to be ready on the first

warm days instead of waiting for service.We must remember that in an undercharged system,

the condenser coil will be short of refrigerant and thevapor density entering into the coil will be light.

As well, the superheated hot gas will convert tooquickly and will flow out of the condenser too fast andthis will result in poor sub cooling. But if the system isovercharged, the hot gas is very dense and the vaporswill condense into a large amount of liquid, which canstack up in the condenser coil causing a large amount

of heat rejection from the liquid and the sub coolinglevel to be high.

Overcharged TX valve systems will try to close up andthe additional refrigerant will store up in the condensercoil. This can fool a tech because it will maintain thesuperheat during short runs, but if the system runs alonger cycle a higher suction pressure will show up onthe gauges. So let it run; this will eventually show itselfto be an overcharged system.

Let the system stabilize It’s best to run a system for 10-15 minutes minimum;this will allow the refrigerant to become stabilized and aproper number for comparison to be taken fordiagnosis. To measure superheat, record the pressures ofthe suction side of the system and, with the help of apressure temperature chart, convert the pressure readingoff the gauge to the saturation temperature point of thegas internal to the pipe. Next, take the temperature ofthe exterior of the copper pipe close to the outsidesuction fitting and then subtract the saturationtemperature from the external pipe temperature. Thiswill deliver the superheat number, then refer to themanufacturer’s equipment chart for the superheatrequired. In a piston or cap tube system this will lead topossible charge problems, improper airflow, pluggedfilter, partial blockage of a system etc…

Sub cooling methods are used to set up and provideproper diagnoses of a (TX) thermo expansion valve typesystem; again the system needs to operate for aminimum of 10 to 15 minutes for stabilization of thesystem and its refrigerant.

Gauge pressure is recorded off of the high side ofthe gauge set. Then, again refer to a pressuretemperature chart for the saturation temperaturepoint of the gas. Next, the exterior copper pipetemperature is taken, but this time the properlocation is closest to the (TX) valve inside near the A-coil. Then just as before subtract the saturationtemperature away from the exterior line temperature.This will equal the sub cooling temperature. Always


■ Air Conditioning

Fast tracking installation and service, Part 2

By Bob Bettles and Brian Guttormson

AIR CONDITIONING0 TO 60

These are typical R410A pressures for one day.Correct setup is more critical with today’s systems.

refer to the manufacturer’s equipmentlabels for the correct sub coolingreadings required.

Low load conditionsLow load conditions are caused by notenough airflow, dirty or plugged filters,or thermostat set too low to achievebuilding temperature. This in turncauses a long run time. This will causelow superheat and liquid refrigerant toslug back to the compressor.

On TX valve systems, it causes thevalve to attempt to closeand maintain thesuperheat. When the TXvalve closes therefrigerant will boil offlate in the A-coil. Also, itshould be noted that thesensing bulb pressurewill be low and theequalizer line pressureand the internal springtension on the TX valvewill close up. This canlook like a refrigerantrestriction in the systemand show up on thegauges.

To confirm this,remove the TX valvesensing bulb and place itinto your warm clenched hand. At thispoint the reaction should be increasedpressure on the suction gauge. If there isno change immediately, the valve maystill hunt around to find its runningplace and you may need to allow the

system to have more run time.Hunting of the TX valve happens

during a low load condition; the valvetries to maintain the preset determinedsuperheat by trying to throttle close butconsistently pops open. The pressure isgoing up and down. Sometimes this canshow on the gauges and can look like anon-condensable condition.

High load conditionsHigh load conditions can occur duringnew startups. There is just too much

load at once and the sys-tem cannot stabilize, ortoo much air being putthrough the A-coil atonce. It may also indicateunder sizing of the airconditioning systemand/or poor insulation inthe structure. A commonsituation is if air passesaround the A-coil due toan improper install andthe base pan is notsealed. Also, when sizingair conditioning systems,there must be considera-tion of skylights that addload to the building.

If the heat load is toohigh, the superheat will

rise up past the preset value of thevalve. The TX valve will try to open andmaintain the 10ºF superheat. If it can’tand the load is still too high it willresult in high superheat and highsuction pressure and the liquid will boil

off too early in the system. Thissituation will show on a newinstallation on an especially warm day.It will eventually stabilize when thehigh load is under control.

So, in closing, after reading the firsthalf of this story and now having thesecond part to add to the equation, wehope there is a greater knowledge of theimportance of installing and setting upthe new R410A type systems correctly.

R410A type systems are more airflowdependent and more critical to chargethan the old R22 systems.

We must not overlook duringinstallation or service that we must lookat the airflow side of the system and thenre-look at the charge of the systemsecond. Yes, it will cost more to installthe unit correctly, but that will savemonies in useless no-profit service callsunder warranty. ✚


Stand Out!Join HRAI!

For more information call today:1-800-267-2231 or online at: www.hrai.ca

Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI)

Max

HRAI members are licensed, qualified

and insured, making them the

preferred choice for consumers.

HRAI works to promote its members

to consumers using a variety of tools,

giving the HRAI Contractor Member

an advantage in the marketplace.

Isn't it time you joined?

Bob BettlesHVAC author and trainer Robert (Bob) Bettles is lead

technical service adviser and trainer for Wolseley HVAC/R

Group Canada.

He can be reached at [email protected].

Brian GuttormsonHVAC author and trainer Brian Guttormson is technical

service advisor for Trent Metals Ltd. (Supply). He can be

reached at [email protected].

Heat pumps must be installed on a raised base for defrost drainage.

Yes, itwill cost

more to install theunit correctly, butthat will savemonies in uselessno-profit servicecalls underwarranty.

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Up To

Residential dehumidificationThe new DryCool HD Dehumidification System fromMunters uses a combination of desiccants and non-ozone depleting refrigerants to deliver cool, dry air tothe home, improving comfort without increasing airconditioning loads. It uses a desiccant dehumidifica-tion wheel and refrigeration (R-410a) to remove heatand moisture from incoming air. There is no heat andtherefore it doesn’t increase the homes air condition-ing load.Munters� www.munters.us

Variable speed draft inducerThe new RT and RTH Tjernlund rooftop draft inducersfeature adjustable speed to maintain negative vent pres-sure. RT models are used to exhaust gas or oil heatingequipment, gas fireplaces and ovens. They include a fan-proving switch and offer several optional heater inter-lock controls, including the UCRT combinationinterlock and speed control. RTH models are designedfor solid fuel fireplaces, stoves, ovens, BBQ’s and general

purpose exhausting. They include a wall mount speedcontrol. Both versions come in 250 to 750 CFM and 750to 1500 CFM capacity ranges.Canadian General Filters�www.cgfproducts.com

Dual speed exhaustThe Air King model AKF100DEnergy Star qualified DeluxeQuiet dual speed exhaust fanwith light is designed to

provide cost-effective, energy-efficient ventilation at low level

sounds. ASHRAE 62.2 ventilation can be accomplishedby using the HVI-certified low speed of 50 CFM at 0.3sones (barely audible) for continuous ventilation of thehome and the HVI-certified high speed of 100CFM at1.5 sones for when the room is occupied. Air King� www.airkinglimited.com

Deflated appearance eliminatedThe SkeleCore in-ducttensioning device fromDuctsox eliminates thedeflated appearance dur-ing idle air handler peri-ods and “popping”sounds from equipmentstart-up in fabric ducts. It consists of a 3/4-inch-diameter aluminum tube supporting a series of 3/16-inch-diameter powder-coated steel connecting rings. Backbonetubes easily snap into the support rings and couplers witha spring-loaded, quick- connect/release mechanism. It isavailable in 15 diameters ranging from eight to 36 inches.Ductsox� www.ductsox.com


■ Ventilation

Broan-NuTone launched two new two-speedventilation fans in April. Designed forcontinuous ventilation requirements, these unitsare quiet and efficient. The Select-Air two speedventilation fan generates 40 CFM ata barely audible 0.3 sone andprovides an optional boost to highspeed at 80 CFM at 0.8 sone. It isEnergy Star qualified with apermanently lubricated motorengineered for continuousoperation. It is designed for anyresidential property where quiet,continuous low-speed ventilation isrequired. For project flexibility, a choice of two operating modes is available:

1. Continuous low speed with a boost to highspeed using a standard one-function switch; or2. Manual selection of high speed, low speedor off using a two-function switch. The wallcontrols are sold separately and there is a three-year warranty on these Canadian-made units.For more information, visit www.broan.ca orwww.nutone.ca.Broan-Nutone� www.broan.ca

The Broan, left, and Nutone Select Air fans provide quietventilation for residential applications.

Product ProfileQuiet two-speed fans

Editor’s note: This is part two of an article about chilledbeams, a fast-emerging hydronic cooling technology forcommercial spaces. The first part of this article appear inour May/June issue.

As we mentioned last month, chilled beams are analternative to conventional VAV systems. They separatethe functions of ventilation and dehumidification. The“beam” is housed in a sheet metal enclosure typicallyplaced at ceiling level.

Europeans discovered from their experience that bylowering chilled beam panels below the ceiling that theconvection cooling component of the individual panelscould be increased. Functioning like a fan coil withoutthe fan, this satisfied the increased cooling loads fromincreased use of computers seen in the 1990s. Also, therewas a desire to provide higher cooling capacities forexterior zones to provide better overall comfort.

Passive coolingBy lowering the panel below the ceiling and making it anopen coil, the capacity of the chilled panel can be increasedto approximately 120 to 150 Btu/h per square foot. Thisconfiguration has been designated a “passive chilled beam”by the industry. It resembles a beam when mounted belowthe ceiling. It is passive since the convective coolingcomponent is natural convection, as shown in Fig. 1.

Passive chilled beams require ventilation air to bedelivered by a separate air handling system.

Active chilled beamsWith active chilled beam systems – sometimes referredto as “induction diffusers” – a building’s ventilation airis continuously supplied to chilled beam terminal unitsby a central air handling system.

“Ventilation air is cooled or heated to partially handletemperature-driven sensible loads, while in the summerbeing sufficiently cooled and dehumidified to handle allof the internal moisture-driven latent loads,” explainedGreg Cunniff, P.E., application engineering manager forTaco, Inc., Cranston, Rhode Island. “With active chilledbeams, air from the chilled beam is introduced into thespace through a slot diffuser, creating a Coanda effect:the tendency of a fluid jet to be attracted to a nearbysurface or, in this case, the ceiling.”

Inducing warm room air to blow through the chilledcoil substantially increases the capacity of the chilledbeam. Active chilled beam capacities are in the range of350 to 600 Btu/h per sq. ft. for the coil. Added to this isthe capacity of the primary air from the dedicatedoutdoor air system (DOAS).

Depending on the temperature and quantity of thisprimary supply air, this can add up to 300 Btu/h per sq. ft.of capacity. An active chilled beam can deliver from 500 to900 Btu/h per sq. ft. between the chilled coil and theprimary air (see a chilled beam configuration in Figure 2).

Working in tandemPrimary/ventilation air is introduced into the activechilled beam through a series of nozzles. This inducesroom air into the chilled beam and, in turn, through awater coil. Induced room air is cooled and/or heated bythe water coil, then mixed with ventilation air andreleased, controlling room temperature.

“The technology works in tandem with a central airsystem which is calibrated to circulate only the amountof air needed for ventilation and latent load purposes,”added Cunniff. “The chilled beams provide theadditional air movement and sensible cooling and/orheating required through the induced room air andsecondary water coil.”

According to Cunniff, with an active beam,ventilation air is delivered to the beam by a central airsystem through ducts. The beam unit itself, then, is notunlike an induction unit turned upside down, mountedto the ceiling. Ventilation air moves through ductwork,forcing room air to make contact with the cooling coil.This air then mixes with the primary ventilation air and


■ Refrigeration

Hydronic cooling, Part II

A new way to condition commercial spaces

By John Vastyan

Inducing warm roomair to blow through thechilled coil substantially increases the capacity of the chilled beam.

Cool ceilings

Allan Hof, a service technician with Wellington Controls of Guelph, Ont., cleans the chilled beam coilduring a routine visit.

delivers it through linear diffusers. Linear slot diffusers have been used

for a number of years in VAV systems.Their primary advantage is that theydon’t “dump” cold air at low flow rates,making occupants uncomfortable.

“It’s in this way that chilled beams

transfer a huge portion of cooling (orheating) loads from the less efficient airdistribution system to the greatly moreefficient water distribution system,”continued Cunniff. “As more systems areinstalled here in Canada and the U.S., it’sbecoming clear that chilled beam

technology has developed into analternative to conventional variable airvolume (VAV) systems.”

Three configurationsChilled beams are available in threevariations: passive, active, andintegrated/multi-service beams.

The difference between passive andactive beams focuses on the way airflowand fresh air are brought into the space.Both of these systems are now enjoyingsignificant attention.

Integrated/multi-service beams arechilled beams with circulation systemsthat have been incorporated intolighting, sound, sprinkler and cablepathways, now an approach notuncommonly taken in Europe, thoughnot yet explored in North America.

Injection mixing systemsAlthough radiant cooling and chilledbeams reduce fan electrical energydemand and consumption up to 10times from an all-air HVAC system, thepump energy demand doubles. Now, ifthe pump energy could be reduced, thena radiant cooling/chilled beam systemcould achieve significant energy savings.

Injection pumping has been used for anumber of years in radiant heatingsystems by mixing-down the highertemperature boiler water (at 180ºF) tothat needed for a radiant floor system(100 to 120ºF). This same principal canbe applied to a radiant cooling system,only in reverse – to mix-up lowtemperature chilled water (40ºF to 45ºF)to that required by a chilled ceiling panelor beam (55ºF to 60ºF).

Fig. 3 shows a piping layout for a radiantcooling/chilled beam, low flow/lowtemperature injection piping system.

“In this system, instead of the primarychilled water flow being double that of aconventional chilled water system, itrequires only one-quarter of the flow,”explained Cunniff. “This is the case sincethe primary chilled water systemtemperature difference is now 16ºF insteadof a radiant cooling/chilled beam systemof 4ºF and a conventional system of 8ºF.”

This system reduces the electricalenergy demand of an all air system byalmost 35 percent or more, thus reducingthe transport energy to only 20 percentof the total HVAC system. It combineshydronic heating and cooling energytransport with injection radiant heatingand cooling energy delivery in theconditioned space.

Taco has done considerable researchand development on chilled beam systems.

The company’s new Canadianheadquarters in Milton, Ont. is a showcasefor the technology. It has developed anumber of components for chilled beamsystems, including its LOFlo injectionmixing block (Please see page 41).

Radiant cooling/chilled beamtechnology offers a number of potentialbenefits. These include greater comfortbecause it does not circulate air, creatingdrafts or evaporative cooling on theoccupants skin.

Energy consumption is reducedbecause fan use is minimized. Floor-to-floor building height can be reduced andspace can be maximized because thetechnology doesn’t require largeductwork.

As well, the initial cost is lower andthere are additional space savings sinceonly one pipe is required to servemultiple temperature requirements forboth cooling and heating. ✚


John Vastyan, ajournalist whosework focuses on theplumbing andmechanical, HVAC,geothermal, solarand radiant heatindustries, owns

Common Ground, a tradecommunications firm based inManheim, Pennsylvania. He can bereached at [email protected].

Hof calibrates the temperature sen-sor for the supply water to the chilled beam system at Taco’snew Canadian headquarters in Milton, Ont.

Fig. 1: The convective cooling component is natural convection.

Fig. 2: An active chilled beam will add considerable cooling capacity.

Fig. 3: shows a piping layout for a radiant cooling/chilled beam, lowflow/low temperature injection piping system.

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Replacement TX valvesDanfoss TUA/TUAE type replaceableorifice TXVs are designed for use inmost refrigeration applications under 4-

½ tons. Due to their small size, light weight, and rapidinstallation time they are particularly useful in either new

installations or when replacing a TXV in a small space, saysthe manufacturer. By pairing one of six valve bodies withone of ten orifices, the technician can satisfy mostapplications from -40 to +50ºF and 1/10 up to 4-½ tonscapacity (capacities vary depending on refrigerant).Danfoss � www.Danfoss.com

Safe start-upThe Copeland SecureStart is anelectronic module that provides

safe and consistent start-up performancefor single-phase Copeland compressors. By continuouslymonitoring motor current and voltage, SecureStartprotects compressors from damaging low voltage whilesignificantly reducing in-rush current up to 75 percent,reports the manufacturer. It is designed to be easy toinstall across a range of applications and may be ideallysuited for remote or rural applications where startingreliability can be a problem.Copeland � www.emersonclimate.com

Air-cooled variablespeed chillerThe quiet York YVAA air-cooled variable-speed screwchiller can be tailored for ef-ficiency, sound and sustain-ability. A low kW/ton energyuse allows it to use up to 50 percent less energy thanolder chillers. It also offers flexible energy consumption,with design efficiencies up to 11.6 EER. The unit can alsobe configured to deliver an integrated part load value(IPLV) up to 19.8 EER. It uses HFC-134a refrigerant. Aproprietary falling-film evaporator and microchannelcondenser coils reduce the refrigerant charge by as muchas 15 percent.York � www.york.com


■ Refrigeration

Coleman has boosted its premium residential airconditioner line with the new Echelon 16 SEERmodel, with 2.5 and 3.5-ton models added tothe company’s two to five-ton capacity range.

The newest addition to the Echelon lineupbrings a number of new features. The controlboard is compatible with the Echelon Residential

Communicating Control,which communicateswith all key componentsin a home comfortsystem, providing totalsystem integration thatis designed to maximizesystem efficiency andhomeowner comfort.

The unit alsointroduces micro

channel coil technology to the Echelon line andincludes the latest generation of tube and alloyadvancements, which provide improvedperformance in heat transfer and durability,reports the manufacturer. Coleman introducedits micro channel technology in 2006 and nowhas nearly a million units operating in the field.

A specialized fan design provides whisper-quiet operation by allowing air to flow smoothlyand efficiently across the fan tips. Coleman’sWhisperDrive system combines this with acomposite base pan, isolated compressorcompartment, electronically controlled fanmotor and single-stage compressor to reduceoverall sound while raising comfort levels andimproving efficiency.

Contractor friendly features include a sturdydesign with a full-end, full-service access panel andhandle. A slide-down control compartment andangled service valves further reduce installationtime and costs. It uses R410A refrigerant.Coleman � www.colemanhvacdealer.com

Product Profile High efficiency AC

This 16-SEER model is designed for efficiencyand quiet operation.

etting started on this topic requiresa quick look again at the majorcauses of corrosion in closed loophydronic systems.

If you do an internet search for“boiler water treatment” on Googleyou will come across all kinds of

websites dealing with treatment of feed water for steamboilers. These sites are not really of great interest for thekinds of problems we encounter in closed loop systems.I think my initial suspicion of the boiler chemicaltreatment industry arose many years ago when overeagerchemical salesmen were selling chemicals designed forsteam boiler protection to building owners who neededto protect their closed-loop systems.

Fix the leaks!The most common problem we see in closed loops arewith those systems that are not actually closed – i.e. theyeither have fluid leaks requiring much make-up water,or oxygen diffusion problems from the use of non-barrier plastic tubing. Contrary to what I just said in thefirst paragraph, the kinds of chemicals that help systemswith these problems are ones commonly used in steamsystems – oxygen binding chemicals and scavengers, andscale inhibitors and dispersants.

Excess feed water both gives and takes. It gives you aconstant source of minerals that can precipitate out ofsolution to foul the internal surfaces of the system, andit gives you a constant addition of oxygen, which takesaway metal ions from the internal surfaces of the system.As I discussed in the last issue, as long as there are noleaks, the oxygen will get used up, the fluid will becomerich in metal ions.

Provided there is no organic action and the pHremains reasonably neutral, everything should settledown. So the answer to oxygen corrosion in a closed loopsystem is to stop the ingress of fresh water by stoppingthe egress of your heat transfer fluids – locate and fix theleaks!

If you have a whole bunch of non-barrier tubing inyour system, the preferred method of preventing oxygendiffusion is to isolate the tubing with a heat exchangerand use non-ferrous components on the tubing side.


■ Hot Water Heating

CHEMICAL TREATMENT – WHERE DO YOU START?

Water quality and hydronic heating, Part II

By Roy Collver

This is something that you don’t ever want to see– water from the inside, making its way outside.

You cannot assume that what your grandfather used is the right thing to use today.

G

Oxygen scavengersWhat about oxygen scavengers to neutralize the effectsof oxygen? These chemicals are effective, but they mustbe monitored and renewed regularly or they becomeineffective. In my experience, this is the weak point ofusing chemicals in a hydronic system. How fast are theydepleted? How do you test? Who is going to monitor andadjust chemical levels? What happens if you forget?

Adjusting the pH level is an easy one, but it must bedone on a regular basis. I am not quite sure why and howthe pH in a closed system gets out of whack, but it seemsto be one of the main factors leading to boiler heatexchanger corrosion, especially of aluminum. I have atheory I am going to try here – see what you think:

In a multi-metal system, you have dissimilar metals,which lead to galvanic corrosion. Often the variousmetals are affected differently by acidic or alkalinesolutions (see the last issue for that discussion). If thereis some corrosion of the aluminum, one might expectthe fluid to fill up with aluminum oxide ions to the pointwhere it becomes less active.

What I think we are seeing, however, is the aluminumprecipitating and plating out of solution onto the copperand brass, which makes room for more aluminum ionsto enter into solution. They in turn plate out, and on andon, until we rot a hole in the aluminum and fill theinside of the copper and brass components. I don’t knowif this is actually the failure cause – it needs confirmation– but the physical evidence would seem to support thetheory based on the photos that accompany this article.

What do chemicals do?There are oxygen scavengers, oxygen binders, filmingamines, coagulants and flocculants, organic corrosioninhibitors, feed water passivators, system clean and flushchemicals, alkalinity builders, acid builders, scaleinhibitors, scale dispersants, suspended solids controlagents, buffering agents, chromates, molybdates, nitrites– and on and on it goes.

I’m guessing at this point you might want to call anexpert in because this is a really specialized field. Forexample, TSP (trisodium phosphate) has been historicallythe cleaning chemical most recommended by cast-ironboiler manufacturers upon commissioning a new system.

Aluminum boilers, on the other hand, will get eaten upby the TSP as it removes the protective oxide surface andattacks the aluminum. You cannot assume that what yourgrandfather used is the right thing to use today.

Solving the water quality puzzleWho can help you solve these water quality issues? Thereare a few avenues to investigate:

As I said last issue, consult with the boilermanufacturer to get their recommendation as to waterquality and chemical treatment. The boiler manufacturershould be able to, at minimum, recommend and endorsea chemical treatment supplier if they feel such protectionis required. Ideally, they can sell you a chemical treatmentas an accessory item and instruct you in its use along withthe maintenance procedures required to keep yoursystem in tip-top shape.

Look for a credible chemical treatment company thatspecializes in treating modern hydronic mixed metalclosed loop systems. There are two companies that I knowof who are actively working across North America whoclaim to have the products necessary to properly treat andmaintain these systems. Check out their web sites -www.fernox.com and www.rhomarwater.com. I am notgiving a blanket endorsement to these two companies, butI am impressed by the fact that they provide you with a

“suite” of chemicals to look after the whole process frominitial cleaning and flushing, to passivation - right throughto final treatment additive and ongoing testing. Supplyinga test kit with instructions is a key service, and they bothprovide water analysis services.

I tried to download MSDS sheets from both of theirweb-sites to see what was actually in their compounds,but either couldn’t find them or was frustrated byrequirements to “register,” etc. I just didn’t have the timeto pursue it any further, and don’t know why they makeit so difficult, since they are required by law to supplyMSDS to anyone using their chemicals.

Also, beware of over-hype when it comes to anychemical company – they can tend to be a bit dramatic.One of these companies claims that they are the “onlywater treatment company with its own, dedicated in-house R&D facilities and specialists” – a claim I’m sureother companies might dispute.

There are most surely other companies offeringsimilar products to those listed and it would be a goodfirst step to check with your local plumbing and heatingwholesaler to see if they carry a specific brand – whichleads me to the last, very important point.

Look to a local supplier and/or representative of thesechemical companies who can provide analysis, supportand advice along with – and this is key – knowledge of localwater chemistry. Water varies wildly from place to place(even from well to well on the same property) and it isessential you find someone nearby who has experience inlocal requirements and can help you through the process.

And ask friends and colleagues in the business fortheir recommendations. I have found that they arehardly ever neutral in their opinions. If they have hadgood experiences and have built trust in their “chemicalguy,” they will be sure to tell you. And if they have had abad experience, they will likely tell you three times! ✚


Roy Collver is an author andconsultant on hydronic heatingbased in Peachland, B.C. He can be reached [email protected].

There’s your aluminum (a test lab confirmed thewhite coating was aluminum oxide).

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The unit is available in sizes from two tosix tons and features enhanced heatingand cooling efficiencies (4.8 COP and 27.9EER on three ton models, part load) com-pared to the previous generation. Enertech �www.enertechmfg.com

Wall covering radiatorThe Panel Plusradiator fromJaga fits into anyhome with its flatradiant tubes on astreamlined panelfor a minimalistlook. It can bemounted hori-zontal, vertical, asa free standingbench radiator ora skirting modelwall. The basic

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Heat pump standClimateMaster has intro-duced a stand for its Tran-quility heat pump productline for those areas thatmust have raised equip-ment to meet code. Man-ufactured with18-gaugereinforced steel, the standis designed for rigid con-struction and has a pow-

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Boiler line expandedFulton has expanded itsVantage series of condens-

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boiler models are designed to be tolerantof varying system conditions with a heat

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■ Heating

Using the sun’s energy to boost hotwater and electrical systems hasreceived considerable attention inrecent years. But solar energy canalso significantly reduce heatingcosts in forced air systems.

Enerconcept Technologies Inc., asolar air heating equipmentmanufacturer based in Magog,Quebec, recently introduced its Lubisolar air heater for commercial,institutional and industrial facilities.This wall-mounted solar collectorsimulates an aesthetic architecturalglass-like facade, but provides up to80.7-percent peak heatingefficiencies, the highest efficiency yetrecorded for any solar air technologyin Canadian Standards Association(CSA-International) certification tests,reports the manufacturer.

These panels can generate tem-perature increases of up to 81°F(45°C) above ambient outdoor tem-

peratures, makingthem useful for pre-heating outdoor air tosupplement facilityheating. The maxi-mum output of eachpanel is 254 Btu/h per

square foot (800-watts/m2).The Lubi’s translucent per-

forated panel technologymakes it more efficient thanconventional (if there is sucha thing in such a new tech-nology) solar air panels. Each3x1-foot (900 x 320-mm)polycarbonate panel has 906perforations. Thermal loss issignificantly reduced because

of their transparency and the coolingeffect of outdoor ambient air beingdrawn through the perforations by

the building’s HVAC air handling sys-tem. The dimples are shaped to pre-vent rainwater infiltration.

In summer, when heatingequipment is idle, heat escapesthrough the collector and doesn’tpose an additional cooling load onthe building. Panels are installedanywhere from 2 to 10-inches (5 to25-centimeters) from the wall,depending on the airflow pattern,number of air intakes, wall surfaceand wall geometry.

Payback can range from zero toseveral years depending ongeographical location, climateconditions, heating application,government tax advantages, utilityincentives and other factors. Inmasonry new construction, the Lubican substitute for brick wallconstruction and offer as much as azero payback.Enerconcept Technologies �www.enerconcept.com

Solar panels can pre-heat ventilation air to reduce the load on conventional heating equipment.

Product ProfileSolar air heater boosts forced air systems

www.bradfordwhite.com | Built to be the Best™ | To Find A Wholesaler Call 800.690.0961©2011, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved.

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IAQ/HVAC test meterThe AdvancedSense IAQ/HVACportable data collection meter fromGray Wolf incorporates embeddedWindows OS for mobile comput-ing. In addition to optional built-insensors (auto-zeroing differentialpressure and barometric pressure),as many as 20 extra sensors may be connected simulta-neously to measure TVOCs, CO2 (for ventilation as-sessment), air velocity, particulates and specific gases(such as CO, O3, H2S, SO2, NO2, etc). Gray Wolf Sensing Solutions�www.GrayWolfSensing.com

Lightweight chop sawA new chop saw from Porter-Cable(Model PC14CTSD) has been designedto handle a number of metal cuttingapplications on professional jobsites. A15 AMP, high torque motor delivers3,800 RPM to easily cut throughtough materials such as castiron pipe, angle iron,threaded rod, conduit andsquare tubing. A “D” handledesign provides comfort andcontrol when making cuts.Porter-Cable� www.portercable.com

New driver kitsMalco Tools’ CONNEXT handlesand magnetic hex chuck drivers,or the company’s exclusive hollowhex chuck drivers, are nowavailable in kits. The driverhandles feature shock proof,shatter proof acetate handle grips.Precision fit and hardened quick-connect holders accept any 1/4-in. hex shank powergroove or insert style driver for use as a shaft. Aratcheting handle in all kits allows fast forward or reverseratchet driving.Malco Tools� www.malcotools.com


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■ Tools & Instruments

This is not a new tool,but it works well inthese days of tryingto do more with less.The General PipeCleaners KineticWater Ram clearsclogged drains with“green” power. Justpump it up, insert inthe drain, and snapthe trigger. It uses

compressed air to generate a shock wave thatpulverizes the stoppage instantly. The shockwave bypasses vents and goes around bends toreach the stoppage with only two percent lossof power, reports the manufacturer. A built-inpump and pressure gauge let the operatorselect the right amount of force for each job.It’s cleaner than snakes, safer than chemicals,and uses no electrical power or CO2 gas.

An optional toilet attachment screws ontothe front to turn it into a powerful plunger.This enables the operator to position the conein the bowl to get a tighter seal, allowing theblockage to be struck with greater impact andno splash back.

Now, the only problem is that it is perhaps alittle too quick for the homeowner who isexpecting the plumber to spend some timeand make some noise to unclog that drain –they’ve been known to question the bill. But insituations where a quick easy fix is a must, theRam works well.

The tool has an attractive plated body andcomes in a sturdy metal tool box with a varietyof accessories, including tapered rubber conesand a set of expansion plugs to handle 1-1/4”to four-inch lines.General Pipe Cleaners �www.drainbrain.com

Product ProfileGreen power clears drains

The Kinetic Water Rammakes quick work ofclogged drains.

12 Piece Kit-Array

TA N K L E S S H O M E H E AT

Redmond/Williams Distributing British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario

have never been one to follow fads of any kind.When other kids were going nuts trying to

get the latest schoolyard gizmo, a spinning topor bat-a-ball or whatever, I’d be at homereading or making my model airplanes, as perusual. Then once the fad had passed andnobody gave a hoot about the tops, or

whatever, I’d make a deal for one for pennies on thedollar and figure it out afterwards. There’s a bit of theScot in me, Belfast boyo that I am.

I’ve always been the same regarding my mechanicaldesigns. I like to stay away from new stuff until it hasbeen field-tested and proven by other people.

I can’t help but recall one of the first large closed loopheat pump systems I had exposure to when I startedworking for a mechanical contractor in 1981. The systemwas installed in a large shopping mall. The manufacturersent a serviceman to do the startup. He over-tightened everyfan belt in the building and caused a great many bearings tofail and eat the fan shafts. It caused a major back charge.

That put me off using water-to-air heat pumps for afew years. It showed me how fragile the units were, andhow the manufacturers had skimped on quality in orderto get their stuff out on the market.

I regretted using first generation variable volume andtemperature (VVT) systems on a couple of jobs in themid 80’s. Those little plastic gear drives stripped off andrendered the dampers useless. One system fell victim toa lightning strike and turned a downtown bicycleemporium into a single zone system. I guess I was theguy torture testing that stuff !

I have, since then, used closed loop heat pumps andVVT controls on a number of jobs, but it took timebefore I became confident in the later generation’s abilityto last beyond the warranty period.

Doing the researchPeople sometimes ask me what’s the best system for theircottage or new home. The term ‘geothermal’ alwaysseems to come up but, unless they are planning to buildadjacent to a large pond, lake or river, I tell them to usea propane furnace and split A/C system. Like any newthing, a lot of entrepreneurs have jumped on thatbandwagon with mixed results. I’m not one of them.

My company installed a closed loop geothermalsystem that was designed by another engineering firmabout twelve years ago. The pipes were sent down 300feet below grade and arranged in a grid pattern. I don’tknow what sort of soils analysis the engineers did. I canonly surmise that the idea of soil analysis didn’t occur tothem. What happened in that instance was, the return

fluid temperature rose steadily ‘til it topped 110 degreesF in winter! The substrate became saturated with heatand essentially useless. A second fluid cooler had to beadded at great expense to the consultants, who closedtheir doors shortly thereafter. Ouch!

As a consequence, systems we have designed andinstalled over the years have not let our customers down.We take things like substrate composition and moisturecontent into consideration.

Building for longevityI like packaged rooftop equipment. Some of the units Isold way back when I entered the industry are still in use.That’s a testament to their longevity, for sure, but it must


Please see ‘Diligent’ on page 37

An experienced crew from Techaire Systems inBrampton, Ont. replaced a chiller, cooling towerand 17 packaged units atop a highrise in Missis-sauga, Ont. in 2005. Many hours were spent meas-uring and laying out the systems. That meant nouncertainty at the time of installation.

■ Mechanical Design

Like any new thing, a lot of entrepreneurs have jumpedon that bandwagon withmixed results. I’m not one of them.

I

Sometimes it’s better to letothers be the groundbreakersWhen to innovate and when to stick with tried and true

By Michael McCartney, P.Eng.

Japanese Technology at Work

AutomaticPipe Threading Machines

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be remembered that I was selling third generation stuff.The early versions of packaged heating/ cooling units

were notorious for premature heat exchanger failures. Itwas not until powered exhausts and better grades ofaluminized or even stainless steel came into use thatthose demons were put to rest.

I design a lot of car dealerships and service garages. Ikeep things simple; infrared heat over the cars’ hoods,save for where the roof is too low. That’s where the techsare working. I like to be warm in winter. Why shouldthey be any different?

I call for general ventilation AND spot exhaustpickups for CO removal, in tandem. This is in excess ofcode requirements, but it makes for a more pleasantworking environment; less odour in the air. I use direct-driven upblast BI fans where possible. No maintenancerequired. My systems are simple, cheap, efficient andreliable. I like that. Why make things complex when thesimple alternative works?

Old technology in a new settingI had an opportunity to view the plans for a hospital inNova Scotia a few years ago. A friend of mine, a quantitysurveyor, was asked to come up with a few ideas as tohow to wrestle the HVAC system down a few hundredthousand dollars.

The first thing I pounced on was the designer’s use ofhydronic reheat coils as well as hydronic infrared ceilingpanels in most of the zones. This led to some interestingdiscussions.

One idea that came up was the potential to use SCR-controlled electric reheat coils with their power comingfrom a natural gas fired cogeneration unit. Hospitals usesteam year-round and a cogen unit would provide bothsteam and electricity on a 90 percent efficient basis if soused. That’s one way to use old technology in a newsetting. I liked that concept.

Innovation is generated by suppliers’ salespersonshand in hand with consultants and designers. Most areethical and offer good advice to their clients. Othersremind me of the guys who used to come to our school

yard during recess, with their bat-a-balls, spinning tops,rubber snakes and other bits of junk. Hustlers, they were,and the satisfaction they gave us kids through our havingbought their products was soon forgotten, replaced bythe feeling that perhaps our money would have beenspent elsewhere.

As always it is up to us industry professionals to act asjudge and jury on the selection of what systems andequipment to apply to our projects, regardless of noveltyand innovation. ✚


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CONNEXT3

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ALL MALCO CONNEXT HANDLES & CHUCK DRIVER SHAFT COMPONENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE SEPARATELY. Locate your local distributor at www.malcotools.com

• CONNEXT6 8-Piece Kit Hollow Nut Drivers : CONNEXT6 2-Each 1/4-in.,

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ratcheting style and a full grip.

• CONNEXT4 9-Piece Kit Magnetic Hex Hand Drivers : 3-Each 1/4-in.

and 5/16-in. driver shafts in short, medium and long varieties and 3 handles, including stubby,

full grip and full grip ratcheting style.

• CONNEXT5 12-Piece Kit Magnetic Hex Hand Drivers: 3-Each 1/4-in.,

5/16-in. and 3/8-in. driver shafts in short, medium and long varieties and 3 handles, including

stubby, full grip and full grip ratcheting style.

CONNEXT5

Diligent approach required with new technologiesContinued from page 35

Mike McCartney is a

mechanical engineer and a partner

with Techaire Systems Canada in

Brampton, Ont., as well as a

partner in Aegis Engineering Ltd.,

Toronto. He can be reached at

[email protected].

■ Mechanical Design

New packaged units were ‘armstronged’ up fourflights of stairs. A 300-ton crane lifted off the oldunits, cooling tower and chiller, and then set thenew equipment in place.

Save time, material, space and energy.

Viega SmartLoop™ is an internal recirculation system that uses the supply riser to insulate the inliner tubing. Perfect for long or tall structures like hotels, schools or hospitals, the innovative SmartLoop system is a solution only Viega offers.

System Advantages:

and water consumption

a separate return pipe

Viega SmartLoop

The g loba l leader

in p lumbing, heat ing

and p ipe jo in ing systems

www.viega.com | 1-800-976-9819

One-stop shopUponor recently launched Uponorengi-neering.com, an online resource thatprovides everything an engineer needsto create desirable, sustainable, cost-ef-fective designs for radiant heating andcooling and plumbing applications. Itincludes specifications, submittals, CADdetails, Revit files, instructional manu-als, design guidelines, technical supportand industry resource links. The site alsooffers links to product and system ap-plications, case studies and factory andonline training.Uponor�www.uponorengineering.com

Residential radiant softwareThe new REHAU LoopCAD 2011design software will help engineers andcontractors design radiant heating andsnow and ice melting systems. Itprovides an easy-to-use interface thatfacilitates radiant outputs andcalculations for crosslinked polyethylene(PEXa) based systems in a variety ofradiant applications. The softwareautomatically generates circuit layoutsand room-by-room heat losscalculations. It also creates a detailedmaterial list and project quotationincluding all products required for eachindividual design.REHAU� www.na.rehau.com/loopcad


■ E-Business

Taco Electronics Solutions has updated itsiWorx web-based building managementsystem by adding an interface with the NiagaraAX framework that provides simple integrationwith other building automation systems.

With the push of a single button, everyiWorx controller is self-discovered on the

system network and seamlessly integrates with any existing LONWORKS,MODBUS or BACNet building automation protocol. This allows for the easyupgrade of equipment control, addition of new equipment, building HVACexpansion or integration to an existing graphical front-end.

Taco iWorx is designed as an affordable, web-based buildingmanagement, monitoring and control system specifically for high-endresidential and light commercial markets. It provides a full suite of controlproduct applications that range from boiler controls, heating and airconditioning applications, and also includes products for emerging newtechnologies like Btu metering.

It is easily scalable for single locations or multi-building and multi-siteinstallations ranging from retail stores, strip malls and restaurants to offices,apartments and church buildings. As well, it is ideal for integrating forcedair and hydronic systems, including geothermal and solar, and for assuringthat each system communicates effectively and works smoothly together.

The online iWorx Selection Wizard (www.iworxwizard.com) offerscontractors and design engineers the ability to create and specify iWorxprojects quickly. It creates a complete submittal package that includeswiring and air flow diagrams, bill of materials, sequence of operations, andcomplete job specifications.Taco Canada�www.TACO-HVAC.com.

Product ProfileTaco adds open protocol to iWorx

At Uponor, we believe in helping our customers achieve their vision. Whether through our products orpeople, we will go above and beyond to meet our customers’ needs. Just ask Jacques De Grâce, a visionary Engineer who was faced with a significant and challenging project. When Jacques and his firm, Pageau Morel, needed the right products and expertise to meet their needs, they contacted Sebastien Pion, Uponor's Technical Sales Representative. Together they crafted a solution that exceeded his customer’s expectations.

That’s because at Uponor, we offer Simply More. Uponor EP Manifold

Sébastien Pion, Technical Sales Representative

Simply Efficient

www.uponor.ca


■ Pipes, Valves & Fittings

Low flow mixing blockTaco’s newLOFlo MixingBlock (LMB) isa prepackagedunit consistingof a variablespeed injection circula-tor and constant-speedzone circulator. Thevariable speed injection circulator is con-trolled by a sensor that monitors incom-ing water temperature to a radiant panel(floor, wall or ceiling) or chilled beam(ceiling). The constant-speed zone cir-culator is controlled by the room ther-mostat.Taco Canada�www.taco-hvac.com

Real time monitoringThe new Build-ing ManagementSystem Interface(BMSI) fromLeonard Valve al-lows real-timet e m p e r a t u r emonitoring of

water temperature mixing valves andcommunication to facility buildingmanagement systems. BMSI verifies ac-curate temperature readings with aMODBUS TCP/IP protocol. The tem-perature is displayed on the digitalread-out and can be monitored re-motely using the CAT-5E Ethernet con-nection.Leonard Valve �www.leonardvalve.com

Large diameter couplingsAnvil International has

added two-piecelarge diameter

s t a n d a r dgroove cou-

plings to itsGruvlok prod-

uct line. Availablein both rigid and flexible styles, they usestandard grooves that conform to theAWWA C606 standard for grooved andshouldered joints and are available insizes from 14” through 24”. The two-piece coupling goes together easier thanthe standard four-piece coupling, reportsthe manufacturer.Anvil International�www.anvilintl.com

A popular copper mechanical pipejoining system is now available ingrades 304 and 316 stainless steel.Viega has introduced its ProPresssystem in stainless from ½-inch tofour-inch sizes. The line consists ofstainless steel pipe, valves andfittings. It provides a fast, reliable,flameless way to make water-tightand gas-tight stainless steelconnections.

Stainless steel piping is used inindustrial and commercialapplications such as food and

beverage processing, chemicalprocessing, pharmaceutical andbiotech processing, oil and gas,mining and manufacturing.

Viega offers three unique sealingelements for its stainless system:EPDM, HNBR and FKM. The EPDMsealing element is used in any type ofwater system and for low-pressuresteam; the HNBR sealing element isdesigned for fuel oil and gas systems;and the FKM sealing element is usedfor applications where increasedchemical resistance is required, aswell as for low-pressure steam.

It can be installed wet or dry,making it ideal for maintenance oremergency repair jobs. It can also beadapted to existing piping withadapters and flanges. The company’sSmart Connect feature provides aquick and easy way for installers toidentify connections that needpressing, so they are not missed.Viega � www.viega.com

Product Profile Viega adds ProPress in stainless

ProPress fittings offer a quickway to install stainless piping.

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© 2

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THIS IS 0NE VERY RESPONSIVE FAUCET.

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Every one knows that plumbing involvestwo fundamental principles...you-know-what goes down hill and payday is onFriday. But does anyone know why? Thepay schedule is determined by the

company management and regulated by Canadianlabour laws, but what about the first part of thatsynopsis. The part involving that most mysterious ofnatural laws... gravity.

Well, it is not so easily explained but in 1665 SirIsaac Newton attempted to comprehend itscharacteristics. His formulas have enabled us toachieve incredible accomplishments such as wasteremoval piping systems and lesser feats like moonlandings and such.

We make use of many natural laws to achievecompliance with the human laws governing our trade.For example, the cornerstone of our industry, thesiphon jet toilet bowl, is a brilliant example of ourclever manipulation of natural forces. With the push ofa button, a rush of water sets in motion a marvel ofnature that we’ve learned to use to do our dirty work.

Unlike the wash-down bowl, the contents of thevessel are sucked into the piping system andeliminated rather than simply allowed to drain awayby atmospheric pressure and gravity. Bernoulli’sprinciple offers a formula to calculate the flow rate andmaximum height of a siphon but, outside of theengineering field, we rarely need to delve so deeplyinto the subject.

The flush valveTable 7.6.4.2.A. of the Ontario Plumbing code detailsthe maximum flush cycles for direct flush fixtures and,to achieve this goal, we install a flush valve. Theingenious design of this type of control takes advantageof the phenomenon that enables a lower pressure overa large area to overcome a higher pressure over a smallerarea. By controlling the rate at which the low side fillsthrough a small hole in the diaphragm, we can controlthe duration of the flush. Ontario code reference 7.6.3.1details the size and capacity of supply piping to fixtures

and the accompanying chart supplies sizes and pressuresthat will satisfy these requirements. The chart lists theminimum dimensions we must provide to achieve therequired volume and flow rate...if we weren’t restrictedby material costs, we could run full supply size right toeach outlet.

To arrive at these minimum dimensions, we mustconsider The Equation of Continuity. This natural lawstates that a fluid flowing through a pipe flows at a ratethat is inversely proportional to the cross-sectionalarea of the pipe. That is, if the pipe constricts, the fluidflows faster, if it widens, the fluid flows slower. Thisconservation of mass is more commonly used toextend the reach of a garden hose but has professionalplumbing applications as well.

Earthly forcesAs a gas technician, I use and am restricted by earthlyforces too. After all, it is called “natural” gas (no offenseto propane). Certainly the properties of the fuel mustbe understood to safely manipulate the product we usein this profession, but there are other componentsgoverned by natural forces in use here as well.

Many of the flame safeguard mechanisms takeadvantage of the properties of metals to achievedesired results. Different metals expand and contractat different rates, which enables us to set parametersin the system to keep us safe and comfortable.With the possible exception of the farmer, I believethe plumber to be the professional most intimately intune with natural law. However, it is the law of manthat ensures we don’t have to witness thissynchronicity au naturel! ✚

■ Plumbing

With the possibleexception of the

farmer, I believe the plumberto be the professional most intimately in tune with natural law.

versus

Here’s another basic law – systems failif not maintained. A client of TurboPlumbing (Whistler, B.C.) wonderedwhy his water flow was poor. OwnerRobert Szachury displays the bungedup wye-strainer

They usually go hand in hand

By Mark P. Evans

Mark P. Evans is alicensed plumber inWaterloo, Ont. He can be reached [email protected]

Code lawnatural law

One of the leading names in advanced technology today, Bosch builds high-quality heat pumps and geothermal systems.

Redmond/Williams carries the full Bosch Geothermal Heat Pump line, ranging from 2–6 ton water-to-air and water- to-water units. All heat pumps come with an ECM motor, 2-stage scroll compressor and quiet acoustic package.

Advanced Geothermal TechnologyNaturally, by Bosch

For the CanadianmarketThe newTommy Col-lection fromDelta includesa high arc kitchen faucet, two lavatoryfaucet options and a shower system de-signed in contemporary style for theCanadian market. It includes a singlehole lavatory faucet or a wall mountoption, both at a water efficient flowrate of 1.5 gpm (5.7 L/min). A higharc single handle kitchen faucet andthe Monitor 14 Series Tub andShower fixtures round out the collec-tion. They are chrome and Delta’sBrilliance Stainless finishes. Masco/Delta Faucet Div.�www.deltafaucet.ca

Retrofit urinalNew vitreous chinawash-down retrofiturinals from SloanValve Co. offer a way toupgrade to morewater-efficient flushingwhile minimizing theeffort of replacing ex-isting urinals. The newretrofit urinals areavailable in threewater-efficient mod-els—1/8 gpf, 1/4 gpfand 1/2 gpf—whichcan be matched withvarious sensor-acti-vated or manual

flushometers. The footprint has been enlarged to helphide original fixture caulk lines. The rim-to-outlet di-mensions have been optimized to eliminate the needto change the rough-in.Dobbin Sales Ltd.� www.dobbinsales.com


■ Faucets & Fixtures

Moen research shows that nearly 50 percent ofhomeowners prefer traditional styling withelaborate detailing in high-end faucets.

The company recently introduced itsWeymouth bath collection for this market.Faucets incorporate details such as porcelaininlays with decorative “Hot” and “Cold” script inEnglish or French on the handles, and agenerously sized spout with distinctive curves.Homeowners can choose from a variety of design

options, from two-handle widespread orwallmount lavatory faucets with either cross orlever handles, or a single-handle faucet with alever handle positioned on the side of the faucet.

All faucets meet WaterSense conservationrequirements with a flow-optimized 5.7 litres perminute (1.5 gpm) aerator, offering up to a 32percent water savings.

In addition to lavatory faucets, the Weymouthcollection offers two-handle Roman tub faucets,several showering options and accessories. Thecollection is available in a number of finishesincluding chrome, Moen LifeShine brushed nickeland oil rubbed bronze.Moen Canada� www.moen.ca

Product ProfileTraditional style

Canadians like their bathroom décor traditional, research shows.

Contemporary eleganceThe new Silas Faucet Collection from Toto ischaracterized by a classic contemporary elegance in itshigh-efficiency lavatory faucets and shower systems aswell as tub fillers and accessories that introducesflexibility to homeowners’ interior design as itcomplements traditional, transitional, andcontemporary bath décors. Faucets flow 1.5 gpm.Toto� www.totousa.com

Compact ice dispenserThe new 7 Series ice and water dispensers from FollettCorporation are available in countertop orfreestanding models, have seven pounds of ice storageand can produce up to 125 pounds of chewable ice perday, ideal for a 25-30 person work group. They aredesigned to fit on a counter underneath a wall-mountcabinet, be attractive enough to match a coffee brewer,and not require a drain. And they are energy efficientboth in refrigeration and water use, using up to 50percent less energy and up to 75 percent less waterthan the typical under-counter icemaker found inoffices today.Follett Corp.� www.follettice.com.

Dual-flush actuatorDual-flush actuators from Geberit North America aredesigned to provide the option to add water efficiency– and a touch of style – in any bathroom or powderroom. Used with Geberit’s In-Wall Carrier System,,the only visible part is the flush panel. They offer aneasy-to-understand visual cue that signals the userwhich button to push for the appropriate flush – thelarge button for full flush and small for half flush, forexample. For dual-flush toilets, there’s typically a 2:1usage ratio between the half flush of 0.8 GPF (3 LPF)and the full flush of 1.6 GPF (6 LPF). They areavailable in a wide range of finishes includingbrushed nickel, chrome, matte chrome and Geberit’sAlpine White.Geberit� www.geberit.us

Learn more:

www.vic-press.com

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CHAD HYNDSHAW, MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR


Asmall independent Toronto area wholesaler hasopened a luxury plumbing showroom that beliesthe company’s small size.

With only one branch, Central Plumbing Supply ofVaughn, Ont. is not a giant in southern Ontario’swholesale plumbing market. Visitors to the company’snew WaterFlo Kitchen & Bath Gallery would be hardpressed to tell the difference.

At 3,000 sq. ft., it’s not the largest showroom aroundeither, but careful design has resulted in a remarkableamount of product – medium to high-end faucets andfixtures – while maintaining wide aisles and easy viewingfor visitors.

The showroom is a new venture for the company,remarked company president Joe Virone. Founded in1996, the company wanted to provide a place where their

customers could refer their own customers when doingcustom work and other upscale bath and kitchenprojects.

“Most of our competitors are in the same sort ofgame. We wanted to tackle that sector of the market,” headded. As well as contractors, like other plumbingshowrooms, the company is hoping to attract designersand the public. “We’re in a prime retail location,” henoted.

The WaterFlo showroom is located at 871 EdgeleyBlvd. in Vaughn, Ont. Michael Misasi has been appointedshowroom manager. The company held the officialopening on June 2 with about 310 customers, designers,builders, manufacturers, family and friends attending.

For more information, call (416) 623-8131 visitwww.waterflogallery.com. ✚

■ Faucets & Fixtures

New plumbing showroomopens in north Toronto

The showroom opening June 2was well attended.

Showroom manager Michael Misasi greets guests.

Energy Effi cient Valves for Green Designs –

Electronic Pressure Independent Valve (ePIV)

Belimo Americas • 866-805-7089 • www.belimo.com

>Learn more atwww.piccv.com

• Precise fl ow control eliminates over pumping and

provides favorable energy savings.

• Prevent energizing additional chillers by maintaining desirable Delta T.

• Performs continual balancing to maintain system performance.

• Constant fl ow regardless of pressure variations in the system.

• Ability to change from equal percentage to linear fl ow characteristics by

software without modifi cation to the valve body.

ePIV_9_75x5_75.indd 1 6/1/2011 8:49:50 AM

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■ Training

Young people often refer to school as “jail,” until they get out in the real world andrealize how lucky they had it. A group of Medicine Hat College plumbing apprenticesand their instructor decided to make their school a little more “jail-like” recentlywith the construction of a full-scale jail cell in the plumbing department’sdemonstration area.

Shop aide Dave Marshall spearheaded the concept of using miscellaneous bits ofPEX piping, copper T-drilled connections, some black paint and a little imaginationto put it together. With a sanitary floor sink, stainless steel water closet and lavatory,not to mention bars, the result looks just like the real thing at the nearby MedicineHat Remand Centre.

However, reports Danny Wilson, plumbing co-ordinator, there is no connection.Building the jail cell allowed the second-year apprentices to get hands-on experience inbuilding an institutional washroom. The bars were made from scraps of PEX andpainted black. The copper plumbing was a typical second-year apprentice project thattaught the students how to use a T-drill. Students also used a T-drill to make the ‘Jail’sign out of scrap copper.

“Our students can now see in some reality how a cell unit is plumbed along with the many other setups we have in our lab.” The project took several months to complete.

In Alberta, the plumbing apprenticeship is four years, with apprentices attendingschool for eight weeks each year. Medicine Hat College limits each class to 12 students.

Wilson says Marshall’s ambition and creativity is an inspiration to all staff.“So, to all those plumbers out there, don’t break the code and stay out of jail at

Medicine Hat College,” he adds. ✚

‘Jail’ a learningexperience

Dave Marshallspearheaded the jail cell project.

Food and a bar in every aisle, chocolate fountainsand a whole lot of vendors – Canada’s newestnational wholesaler went all out for their latest

trade show after not having done one in four years.The official visitor count was 5,800 at the Noble

Trade Show May 26, but the actual count was over6,000 with some customers attending withoutregistering, reported vice president Brahm Swirsky.

“We had great expectations and I’m thrilled to say itexceeded our expectations,” he added. “We love the factthat our customers supported us and came out.”

He added that Noble employees really went all outto make it successful. “It was a very well organizedmachine.”

A total of 104 industry suppliers occupied 120booths. Noble held the show in the newest section ofits distribution centre in Concord, Ont. (northToronto). The space just happened to be empty, but notfor long. Noble added the 67,000 sq. ft. space in April,bringing the total at that location to 500,000 sq. ft.

Forty buses brought visitors from all over Ontarioalong with airplanes from Montreal and Ottawa. Therewere also staff and customers from B.C.

Vendors were pleased. One manufacturer, forexample, reported that they went through as much

literature as they typically do in three trade shows.And everyone attending was in the industry. “It was

an opportunity (for the suppliers) to talk to thebuyers, the foremen, the owners, the workers, who willactually have an impact on the installation ofproduct,” noted Swirsky.

Noble customers gave back at the event too, raisingabout $4,500 for Team Noble and Friends through araffle. The 82 Noble employees who participated in theRide to Conquer Cancer this year raised $317,700.

Swirsky expects the next Noble Trade Show to takeplace in two years. The new space is well on the way tobeing fully racked and stocked, so they will have to findanother location. “We don’t know where we are goingto hold the next one,” he laughed.

For more information, visit www.noble.ca ✚


■ People & Places

Exhibitors were thrilled with the turnout. Ridgid’s Phil Senecel-Tremblay, left, chats with a customer.

Food and a bar in every aisle ensured that nobody went home hungry.

Members of Team Noble and Friends, from left, Eddie Morresi, Chris Scales and Diana Compton showtheir stuff\. A raffle raised money for the Ride to Conquer Cancer.

One big wholesale show!

We love the factthat our customers supported us and came out.

Uponor has named BillGray as vice president ofsales for Uponor NorthAmerica. For the past threeyears Gray was generalmanager for Uponor Ltd. inCanada. In his expandedrole, he will lead all UponorNorth American sales effortsin the United States andCanada, as well as continueto oversee Canadianoperations.

Francois Pineau of Plomberie Normand inMontreal was named one of Lochinvar’s top 10performing VIP Contractors and won a trip to Nashville,Tenn. The company won the honour for outstandinggrowth in 2010.

Roth Industries Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., has appointedDavid Harrison as regional sales manager - Canada.

Pro Kontrol, Laval, Que. has named PatrickDumas, as technical representative – Projects Division.

Jaga Climate Systems,Waterloo, Ont., has appointedCyrus Kangarloo as salesengineer.

Belimo Aircontrols(CAN), Inc., Mississauga,Ont., has made a number ofappointments. Tammy-LynnMarrelli has been namedbilingual (English/French)customer service manager.

Rick Mohammed has been appointed senior techni-cal support representative. Kevin Jeannotte andMukthr Karimi have been hired as bilingual technicalsupport representatives, along with Edith Rocheleau-

Rodriguez as bilingual customerservice representative.

E. S. Gallagher Sales Ltd.,Toronto, is pleased to announce theappointment of Ryan Carr as its new

sales representa-tive for south-western Ontario.

Mel Camp-bell has joinedGTW Sales, Innisfil, Ont., as a part-ner and territory sales representativefor southwestern Ontario. He can bereached at (416) 817-5385.


PeopleThe

Bill Gray

Cyrus Kangarloo

Ryan Carr

Mel Campbell

Tammy-Lynn Marrelli Rick Mohammed

Noble, Concord, Ont., has opened new plumbing andHVAC wholesale branches in Milton, Ont., Newmarket,Ont., two in the greater Toronto area, and one in Laval,Que. As well, the Barrie branch is moving.

Eric German, owner/op-erator of Advanced En-ergy Solutions inGoderich, Ont., won anApple iPad from ExtechInstruments, Waltham,Mass., for his entry in thecompany’s “SwitchStory” contest in whichcontractors were askedto write about their ex-periences with the com-

pany’s test instruments. German explained howhe uses several of the company’s products in themaintenance of wind turbines, along with build-ing, equipment and electrical system inspections.

CompaniesThe

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NOTICE OF KITEC PLUMBING SYSTEM SETTLEMENT

For Qualifying Owners or Lessees of Property in Which Kitec Plumbing Systems Have Been Installed

What Is The Litigation About? In the litigation, IN RE KITEC PLUMBING SYSTEM PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION, Case No. 09-md-2098, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Rosati et al. v IPEX USA LLC et al., Court File No. CV-09-13459, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and Cooke et al v Ipex Inc. et al., Court File No. 200-06-000121-098, filed in the Superior Court of Québec, Class Representatives (representatives of current and former owners or lessees of buildings, homes, residences, or other structures in which Kitec Systems have or had been installed) alleged that the Kitec Systems manufactured or distributed by or on behalf of IPEX Defendants are subject to possible premature failures resulting in leaks or damage to the structure. IPEX denies these allegations and asserts that the Kitec Systems are free of any defect and will last throughout the warranty period. In March 2011, IPEX Defendants and the Representative Plaintiffs reached a proposed class action settlement to resolve this dispute. As a result of this settlement, the Courts have certified classes and you should check www.kitecsettlement.com and the full notice for the precise definition of the U.S. Class, the Canadian National Class, and the Quebec Class. In general, the Classes are defined to include all Persons that own, have owned, lease, or have leased, and all those who have or may pursue claims through or in the name or right of those who own or have owned, lease or have leased, buildings, homes, residences, or any other structures that contain or have ever contained Kitec Systems manufactured and/or sold by the IPEX Defendants. Note that for the Quebec Class if you own, have owned, lease, or have leased buildings, homes, residences, or structures in the Province of Quebec and you have more than 50 employees or are a government entity or legal person established in the public interest, you cannot be part of the Quebec Class, but you are part of the Canadian National Class. Further information about this lawsuit and related Settlement is available in the detailed Notice, Settlement Agreement, and other documents located on the Settlement Website at www.kitecsettlement.com

What Plumbing Systems Are The Subject Of This Lawsuit? The plumbing systems that are the subject of this lawsuit (the “Kitec System” throughout this Notice) are individual plumbing parts, components or systems manufactured by or on behalf of IPEX and sold under the brand names Kitec, PlumbBetter, IPEX AQUA, WarmRite, Kitec XPA, AmbioComfort, XPA, KERR Controls, Plomberie Améliorée or otherwise. Examples of these plumbing systems include PEX-AL-PEX, PE-AL-PE, PERT-AL-PERT, PEX pipe, valves, fittings, and/or other components. Photos of the Kitec System are available at www.kitecsettlement.com. For more information about whether you are eligible to file a claim, access the Settlement website at www.kitecsettlement.com. Do NOT call the Court or IPEX.

Who Is Involved? To receive a payment from this Settlement, you must be a Class Member and you must complete and return timely the Claim Form which is available at www.kitecsettlement.com. You are a Class Member if:

• You own, have owned, lease or have leased a building, home, residence, or other structure, in the United States (excluding the Clark County, NV Class) or Canada, that contains or at any time contained a Kitec System

As a Class Member, you qualify for a payment only if you meet all eligibility requirements and properly complete and send in the Claim Form, which is available online at www.kitecsettlement.com

What Are The Settlement Terms? In summary, this Settlement creates a U.S. $125,000,000.00 Settlement Fund for the purpose of providing Class Members who file a proper and eligible Claim Form with compensation for the repair of Kitec Systems through the Claims Period, which ends eight years after the Settlement Effective Date. You should check www.kitecsettlement.com for the exact Claims Deadline date. The amount paid per claimant depends upon a number of factors including the type of and cost of any property damage incurred and shall be determined by the Claims Administrator. The Class Counsel will petition the Court for attorneys’ fees plus reasonable expenses and costs in the amount not to exceed U.S $25,000,000.00. This settlement is conditional on final approval by all three courts considering it.

If I’m A Member Of The Class, What Are My Legal Rights? EXCLUDE YOURSELF. If you exclude yourself or “opt-out,” you will get no payment, but you will be free to sue IPEX on your own about the claims discussed in this Notice. For instructions on excluding yourself from the Settlement, see the Long Form Notice or www.kitecsettlement.com for the required Opt-Out Form. The deadline for opting out is September 30, 2011.

OBJECT. If you do not wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement but you think some aspects of the proposed settlement are objectionable, you can file a formal objection with the appropriate Court. For instructions on objecting to the Settlement, see the Long Form Notice or www.kitecsettlement.com. The deadline for objecting to the Settlement is September 30, 2011.

APPEAR AT A HEARING. If you do not exclude yourself, you can ask to speak to the appropriate Court about the fairness of the Settlement. The U.S., Ontario and Quebec Courts will hold Formal Fairness Hearings to decide if the proposed Settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. In the U.S., the Hearing will be held on November 17, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, 1100 Commerce Street, Dallas, TX 75242. In Ontario, the Hearing will be held on November 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Windsor Courthouse, 245 Windsor Avenue, Windsor, Ontario, N9A 1J2. In Quebéc, the Hearing will be held on December 1, 2011 at 9:30 a.m. at the Superior Court of Québec, Palais de Justice, 300, boul. Jean-Lesage, Québec City, Québec, G1K 8K6. For instructions on appearing at the appropriate Formal Fairness Hearing, see the Long Form Notice or www.kitecsettlement.com. The deadline for filing paperwork that will allow you to appear at the hearing yourself or through counsel is September 30, 2011.

SEND IN A CLAIM FORM. If your Kitec System appears to be faulty prior to the expiration of the warranty period, send in a Claim Form. You will not receive a payment if you do not submit a Claim Form within the eight-year Claims Period and before the Claims Deadline described in the Settlement. The exact Claims Deadline will be posted online at www.kitecsettlement.com.

DO NOTHING. If you do nothing, you will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and its release provisions and give up your right to sue IPEX on these claims later. You will receive no payment if you fail to file a Claim Form by the Claims Deadline.

How Do You Receive A Payment? In order to receive a payment, you must timely submit a Claim Form. There is an eight-year Claims Period beginning on the Effective Date of the Settlement.

For More Information On Your Rights Under The Proposed Settlement, Including Access To The Settlement Agreement, Long Form Notice, Claim and Opt Out Forms, visit www.kitecsettlement.com; call 1-877-337-1293; or write to:

Via courier: Via postal service:

Canadian Kitec Claims Administrator Canadian Kitec Claims Administrator 633 Colbourne Street, Suite 300 OR P.O. Box 3355

London ON N6B 2V3 London ON N6A 4K3

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE COURT AND DO NOT CALL IPEX

Advertisement

The 43rd Annual General Meeting & Conferenceof the Heating, Refrigeration and AirConditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) will

take place Aug. 25-27 in the heart of Ontario’s NiagaraWine Region.

This year’s event will take place at the White OaksResort & Spa just outside historic Niagara-on-the-Lake,home of the Shaw Festival. As in the past, it will includemany business sessions along with entertainment andever-popular golf tournament.

A lesson in leadershipMichael “Pinball” Clemons will headline the AGMkickoff breakfast. Renowned as one of pro football’smost electrifying players, the former Toronto Argonautsrunning back was the CFL’s all-time all purpose yardageleader. However, it is as much his exceptional characterthat has made him the remarkable fan favoritethroughout Canada.

Pinball’s tireless community involvement andparticipation in countless charitable causes exemplifythe qualities he possesses, which are so rarely found intoday’s professional athletes.

Informative industry seminarsSome of the business sessions for delegates will include:next generation refrigerants, how internet marketing canincrease your sales, the impact of 2012 Ontario BuildingCode changes, core competency training for managersand supervisors, comfort and energy managementcontrol in modern hydronic and HVAC systems along

with ultraviolet air cleaning in HVAC Systems. Updateswill be presented on the HRAI Strategic Plan and HRAIIndustry Career Promotion program.

For more information on sponsorship or anything

else to do with the AGM,contact Heather Grimoldby-Campbell at 1-800-267-2231ext.238 or visit www.hrai.ca.


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■ Coming Events

SEPT. 14-17: Rendezvous 2011, MCA Canada’s 70th National Conference,Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City. Call(613) 232-0492 or visit www.mcac.ca.

SEPT. 15-16: Second Annual Education Day, Canadian Oil Heat Assoc. – Ont. Chapter,Scotiabank Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, Ont.Contact Constance Wrigley-Thomas at 1-877-331-9668 or visit www.coha-ontario.ca.

OCT. 4-7: Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. Visitwww.greenbuildexpo.org. or call 1-800-795-1747.Construct Canada.

NOV. 30 – DEC. 2: Construct Canada, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto. Visitwww.constructcanada.com or call (416) 512-0203.

CalendarEvents

ADVERTISERSINDEXto

HRAI to visit wine countryKeynote speaker Michael“Pinball” Clemons will talkabout beating the odds.

On June 22 oil burner manufacturer R.W. Beckett Canada Ltd. presented its annual Delivering theGoods Awards at Oilheat 2011 in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. These awards go to people, nominatedby their peers, that have done exceptional work to support and boost the oil heating industry. Hon-oured this year were, from left, Steve Lamoureux of R.W. Beckett, Guelph, Ont., Steve Hazell, Wilson’sFuels, Halifax, presenter Jonathan Beckett, Jim Wood, McKeown & Wood, Napanee, Ont., and DarinEvoy of McDougall Energy, Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

Delivering the Goods!

Many contractorsbelieve that the bestway to be successful isto be good at what youdo. That’s fine,

provided you know what it is that you do.If you think that you install heating or

plumbing systems and service them,then maybe you need to think again.Virtually everyone who reads this articlecan supply, install and servicemechanical systems. So, what sets youapart? What do you really do?

Customers want resultsYour customers are not interested in theactivities that you do; they are interestedin outcomes. Can you identify whatoutcomes your customers need?

Key outcomes for customers are:Customers don’t want problems with

their mechanical systems; they wantthem working effectively. This meansquality and efficiency. Cost savings arevery important for most people; alsomost of us want to do our bit for theenvironment (provided it doesn’t cost ustoo much) and, of course, we don’t wantour systems breaking down.

Based on this last statement, what is itabout your business that sets you apart?

Do you establish your credentials?Working with gas, oil or electricity canbe very dangerous if not done by

qualified technicians. Do you promotethe fact that your techs are qualified? Doyou offer assurance that you are fullyinsured and bonded? Home owners needthese levels of comfort. Do you havetestimonial letters from your customers?These should be on your website.

Are you up to-date with the latesttechnology? Can you explain it to yourcustomers in a language that they willunderstand? Most home owners have no

idea what a heat pump is or whatbenefits it brings.

What scripts, websites, promotionalmaterial do you have that shows that youare not a “me too” contractor.

There is a growing market for “state ofthe art” systems and processes. These aredriven by green technology and by cost

and energysavings. Can youexplain to aprospect why theyshould pay moreupfront for certainsystems that havelower operatingcosts? Can you

crunch the numbers for them? Can youexplain the environmental impact?

Can you get them financing? Are youup to date with the rebate programs thatare available?

Do you get referrals from customerswho are delighted with what you did forthem?

How good are you at marketing theelements that are making you differentfrom the run of the mill contractor?

Branding yourselfBranding yourself as a “green” contractorcan be a powerful way of establishingyourself as different from yourcompetitors. It shows that you arekeeping up with advances and that youhave knowledge that can be valuable toyour clients. Linking yourself withsuppliers that provide “green” solutionswill also enhance your brand.

Maybe you could write an article foryour customers (or your local newspaper):

It could begin like this:“Most furnaces that have not been

maintained on an annual basis die in“middle age” and use up to 53 percentmore gas than they need to. A dirtyblower gets out of alignment and wearsout about twice as fast as it should.

The question is not “can I afford to havemy furnace serviced” the question is “canI afford not to have my furnace serviced?”

If you have a cracked heat exchangeryou are at risk for carbon monoxidepoisoning.

Since it can save your life and saveyou thousands of dollars onreplacement equipment, doesn’t it make

sense to have a precision tune-up andcleaning done now?”

Something along these lines couldhelp you expand your service work. Thisis critical as most of your installs likelycome from service work.

Another possible article or marketingpiece could cover mistakes home ownersmake in regards to furnace safety:• Not having regular service• Not changing the filter regularly• Poorly vented mechanical room• Greasy oil rags, dog hair, etc. in the

mechanical room • Using the mechanical room for storage –

this is not a good place to store paint tins • No carbon monoxide testers• Not replacing chimney liners• Do it yourself handymen• Using non qualified trades people – do

they have the requisite tickets?• Return air register being blocked.

Can you sell high-end?When it comes time to talk aboutreplacement systems are you up to themark? Can you sell a high-end productat a good margin and have a delightedcustomer? If not, you need to work onthat process. Ask your suppliers orassociation for help in this regard.

But remember your customers are notbuying a high-end product. They arebuying the best possible solution to meettheir needs. Do you have the knowledgeand skill to identify and meet those needs?

Unless you understand those needsand how to meet them you won’t benearly as successful as you could be.

So, how much time do you spend eachmonth educating yourself and your teamregarding the latest technology and howto use it? ✚


■ Shop Management

Ronald Colemanis a Vancouver-basedaccountant, manage-ment con sultant,author and educatorspe cializing in theconstruction industry.

He can be reached by e-mail [email protected].

Your customers are not interested in the activities that you do; they are interested in outcomes.

A short course in marketing your business

By Ron Coleman

“I can’t take a leak.”“I can’t take a leak.”

“That’s why I only use Dahl valves.”Nothing makes my blood boil like going back on a job to replace

a leaky valve that’s caused water damage. I just can’t stand it, and now I don’t have to because I’m using Dahl valves,

covered by a 25-year warranty. With Dahl on our trucks, I sleep better at night.

Want to know more? Call toll-free 1-855-423-4862. Josh, Gaylen or Thomas will answer your questions.

Or visit us at www.dahlvalve.com

Made in Canada.Really.

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